Research has highlighted a number of barriers faced by Melbourne parents when providing healthy lunchboxes for their children including poor knowledge about basic nutrition.

All parents want their children to be happy and able to do their best at school but they are unsure of where to start. said Nutrition Australia, Victorian Division Spokesperson Megan Alsford.

'What children eat for lunch is a really big part of being happy and doing well at school. Healthy eating means children can concentrate and listen for longer and keeps them happy and healthy.

The research conducted by the City of Yarra with help from Nutrition Australia also showed a lack of translated and culturally appropriate information.

Nutrition Australia, Victorian Division, with funding from the Department of Health and Ageing, has addressed this need with the release of a new DVD 'Packing a school lunchbox'. The DVD has lots of practical ideas to fill a child's lunchbox with healthy and tasty foods and is recorded in three languages (English, Arabic and Vietnamese).

'This educational DVD gives parents what they need, practical ideas and demonstrations to fill a child's lunchbox that is not only healthy but easy to prepare and cheap,' said Ms Alsford.

The launch is linked in with the start of the 2009 National Nutrition Week running from 11 - 17 October.

The DVD is free to all Australian Government primary schools. Community groups, parents and individuals can order a copy from Nutrition Australia or download for free from the Nutrition Australia website.

Nutrition Australia is celebrating National Nutrition Week with the theme Falling in Love with Food - value yourself and your health. The focus of the campaign is to encourage people to experience the positive and protective health benefits gained by taking time to prepare meals with fresh ingredients and to enjoy the many flavours of food while sharing and preparing meals with family and friends.

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