About the Guests:

Stephanie Alexander AO is one of Australia's most revered chefs and food educators. With a legacy of over 17 authored books, including the widely acclaimed "The Cook's Companion," she has significantly influenced how Australians perceive and interact with food. An award-winning restaurateur, Stephanie founded the Kitchen Garden Foundation, which integrates gardening and cooking education into schools, fostering a connection between kids and the food they eat.

Angela Brown is an educator at Hillvue Public School in Tamworth, where she implements the Kitchen Garden Program to instill a love for gardening and cooking in students. Working with a diverse student body, including a significant Indigenous population, Angela is dedicated to providing practical and educational experiences that empower students to cultivate sustainable food practices.

Key Takeaways:

The Kitchen Garden Program plays a crucial role in educating students about the origins of food and sustainable practices.
Stephanie Alexander's vision for a connected, community-oriented food education has empowered over a thousand programs across Australia.
Angela Brown's firsthand experiences reveal how gardening and cooking can positively impact children, particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Emphasising experiential learning, the program teaches children patience and respect for nature's cycles, fundamentally altering their food perceptions.
The program’s success relies heavily on support from school leadership and the engagement of community volunteers, creating a sustainable model for growth.

Notable Quotes:

"The whole evening thing was the culmination and the high point of the day." - Stephanie Alexander AO
"If we expose children to a really positive intervention in schools, we have some hope of changing the habits of those kids for the rest of their lives." - Stephanie Alexander AO
"You have no idea how this has changed the eating behavior of our children." - Angela Brown
"Sitting around a table and eating together is really the highlight for them." - Stephanie Alexander AO
"If I ruled the world, this program would be in every single school." - Angela Brown

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