About our healthy living programs
Hunter New England has the highest levels of obesity and cardiovascular illness in NSW.
In NSW 1 in 2 adults and 1 in 4 children are overweight or obese. Being active every day and making healthy food choices can help prevent heart disease, type 2 diabetes and some cancers.
We designed our healthy living programs to reverse these trends and promote the benefits of moderate physical activity to children and adults, which include improvements in:
- mental health
- healthy eating
- prolonging life
- social benefits and connectivity.
Physical activity and healthy eating programs
Here are some easy ways to start eating healthy and being active:
- choose water as a drink
- have 3 regular main meals
- choose healthy snacks between main meals (fruit, vegetables, yoghurt)
- turn off screens and spend time outdoors
- move throughout the day (get up and move every hour)
- use the stairs, park further away and walk to the shops or work
- get active with family and friends on weekends
- choose active travel (walk, ride a bike, use public transport)
We offer free programs for adults and children to help make healthy eating and active living choices easy.
Good for Kids, Good for Life program in Hunter New England
The Good for Kids, Good for Life program (the Program) supports Early childhood education, childcare services and schools to promote healthy eating and physical activity to children in Hunter New England.
The Program has been run by our Population Health team since 2005 and supports NSW Health’s Healthy Living and Active Living programs for children. Our passionate team have a wide range of health and education related backgrounds.
The Program also offers cultural consultation with Aboriginal communities in the region to help develop culturally safe and engaging ways to reach Aboriginal families with health messages.
To find out more go to the Program website.
You can also call (02) 4924 6499 to speak to a Project Officer or email us at HNELHD-goodforkids@health.nsw.gov.au
School canteens
School canteens have an important role to play in providing healthy food and drink choices for students.
A healthy school canteen supports a ‘whole of school’ approach to student health and wellbeing and supports healthy eating messages taught in the classroom.
The NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy (the Strategy) was launched in 2017 to support a healthy eating culture in schools by:
- promoting and increasing access to healthier food and drinks
- decreasing student access to unhealthy food and drinks
- supporting water as a drink of choice
- making healthy choices an easier choice
The Strategy applied to all NSW Government schools (primary, secondary and central schools) with a canteen.
For more information including resources, tools, menu and recipe ideas go to the NSW Healthy School Canteens website.
Other healthy lifestyle programs
Find healthy living services
Use our Service Directory to find a health service near you.