Wyndham City’s Healthy Together Wyndham initiative has something for local sports clubs to chew on, with $2000 grants on offer to make club canteens healthier.
Five local clubs will receive the funding as part of the Sports Clubs Healthy Eating Wyndham pilot program (Sports CHEW).
Wyndham mayor Peter Maynard said the project aimed to get more local sports clubs offering healthy food and drinks at their kiosks.
“We want to see Wyndham’s sports clubs become really healthy places, so we’ll work with the pilot clubs to improve their menus while still keeping their customers happy,” he said.
“The successful clubs will get support and resources to assess their current menu, the canteen operations, finances and customer research. We’ll also support them to make the menu changes, market those changes and review how the new, healthier menu is going.
“Through Sports CHEW we’re aiming to make healthy choices easier for players, officials and supporters by getting healthy options sold at canteens.”
Expressions of interest for the five, $2000 grants are now open and will close on Monday, March 16.
Sports clubs are also being invited next month to attend a free ‘healthy club canteen workshop’ run by an accredited practising dietitian.
“We’re very well aware that canteens provide an important source of income for local sports clubs so we want the new improved menus to be popular with local sports lovers, as well as good for them,” Cr Maynard said.
He urged sports club to “find out more about the Sports CHEW project, get some advice on giving your canteen menu a health check and how to make healthier foods with simple changes”.
“I’d urge interested clubs to come along to the project workshop. Healthier food at the sports club canteen makes a lot of sense. Players who eat well perform better, giving their team a competitive edge.”
Free Healthy Canteen Workshop
When: Wednesday, March 4. Registrations close March 2.
Where: Wyndham Civic Centre, 45 Princes Highway, Werribee
Time: 6-8.30pm
More details: www.wyndham.vic.gov.au/residents/community/healthyandactive/healthytogetherwyndham/events/sportschewproject
Healthy Together Wyndham is taking a community-wide approach to improving health in Wyndham. For more information, phone Healthy Together Wyndham on 9742 0777 or e-mail healthycommunities@wyndham.vic.gov.au.
The truth about sports drinks
It’s important to be well hydrated when playing sport.
- Sports drinks are helpful if you do intense exercise for an hour or more.
- Drinking water is usually best if doing moderate exercise for less than an hour.
- Sports drinks are designed to encourage more drinking so you keep hydrated.
- Drink before, during and after you exercise, even if you don’t feel thirsty.
For more information, visit www.sportsdietitians.com.au
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