Things to think about before organising a Community Healthy BBQ Challenge
Community Healthy BBQ Challenge is a competition to see who can cook the healthiest BBQ meal and bring the local community together in a fun activity that raises awareness of healthy eating. Following is a list of things you should think about before organising your event.
Decide on a venue such as a large public park in a central location or school grounds or a community hall. Remember to check your public liability insurance, and decide on what mobile equipment and Occupational Health and Safety considerations with cooking/preparing food outside. Prepare a list for what you will need for preparing food outdoors e.g. water buckets, covered areas, rubbish bins, eskies etc.
For more information on food preparation, handling and temperature control requirements visit Food Standards Australia New Zealand.
You’ll need to get approval from the council to host an event in a local park, or from the school to host an event in its grounds.
You will need a BBQ for each participant. You might borrow BBQs from local businesses, schools or sporting clubs, or choose a park with BBQ facilities.
Prior to the event you should put together information packs to hand out to the public. Look on the Measure Up website for fact sheets and to order Measure Up tape measures and booklets. The packs could also contain information or items from sponsors of your event.
Don’t forget to invite local businesses to participate with stalls and activities related to healthy living. Local businesses can also get involved by donating food to use in the BBQ Challenge.
To approach an organisation for sponsorship of your event, you should start by contacting the Marketing, Communications, or Public Relations Manager within the organisation. Some smaller businesses may not have such a person, in this case you may wish to contact a General Manager, or Store Manager.
When you contact the organisation, provide them with information about your organisation and your event including what it is, and how many people you are expecting will attend. Also explain to them what you would be expecting from their sponsorship, such as donation of prizes, food or equipment. You should also make it clear what they can expect from their sponsorship, such as exposure to ‘X’ number of people in your local community, their logo included in all event materials including the flier, their logo included on your website. They may also want to include a brochure or some other information on their business or another item in the event information pack given to the public, and/or their company mentioned in all media releases for the event.
Participants of the Community Healthy BBQ Challenge could include the local Mayor or Councillor, the Principal of a local public school, a local GP or Pharmacist, or other prominent members of the community.
Judges for the event could include a local celebrity or prominent member of the community, or a local chef or dietitian who can talk about the benefits of regular physical activity and good nutrition. You can find a dietitian in your area through the Dietitians Association of Australia (DAA) website.
You may also wish to invite a senior representative from your organisation, such as the CEO, to participate as a judge. A local celebrity could be invited to host the event.
The winning meal will be the meal which the judges choose to be most imaginative and healthy. Each participant should receive a small prize, which can be donated by local businesses.
Prizes could be a fruit basket or vouchers for sports equipment, gym membership, drink bottles, t-shirt, gift certificates, caps or water glasses. You might like to approach local shops or companies to seek sponsorships of your event which could include providing prizes. Examples of business you could approach for sponsorship might include: local fruit and vegetable stores, sporting stores or gyms, beauty or massage salons, or health food stores. Avoid unhealthy products as prizes. Such prizes could also be used in a raffle or giveaway for members of the community who attend the event. You can also email info@measureup.gov.au to request a copy of the Healthy Food Fast recipe book to give as a prize, or to use for recipe suggestions at your event.
Your event could also incorporate a BBQ lunch for the community, following the Community Healthy BBQ Challenge event, to raise money for local charities. Don’t forget to organise extra BBQs if you decide to have a BBQ lunch. Choose lean grilled meats and/or seafood and salads, with fruit salad and low-fat yoghurt for dessert.
Keep the local paper informed and invite them along to your event, so everyone can get the benefit of a new enthusiasm for wellness in your community. Let the media know if any high profile attendees, or other interesting ‘hooks’.
Resources you will need to organise for participants
- BBQs
- Prizes
- Appropriate food storage facilities / containers
- Food for cooking
- Food for the after event lunch
Let the wider community know and email photos of your Community Healthy BBQ Challenge to info@measureup.gov.au for the Measure Up website. Remember to seek permission from those in the photos before you send them on (see the photo consent form (RTF 51 KB)). Also fill in and send back the evaluation form (PDF 32 KB) to let us know how your event went.