More than 12,000 Northern NSW children will be participating in this year’s “Big Veggie Crunch”, as the state attempts to break its 2018 vegetable eating record.

In 2018, more than 50,000 kids in schools and early childhood services crunched into vegetables simultaneously, setting a record to beat on March 18. Northern NSW Local Health District’s Acting Health Promotion Manager Gavin Dart said the challenge began as a local initiative in 2015, but it has now grown into a fantastic statewide program.

“The Big Vegie Crunch is a great way to get children to try new vegetables, as it increases their knowledge, exposure and attitude towards veggies,” Mr Dart said.

“We know only six per cent of Australian kids eat enough vegetables each day, when it’s recommended that they eat around five serves for a nutritious diet.

“Parents are amazed their children are eating more vegetables, and a greater variety of veggies, after their school or service is involved in the challenge.”

The Big Vegie Crunch is part of Vegetable Week, a free, quick and easy event for NSW primary schools, funded by NSW Health.

Parents looking for simple, kid friendly recipe ideas to increase their child’s vegetable intake can visit the NNSWLHD Health Promotion recipe page online at https://bit.ly/HLBrecipes