What is a Community Healthy BBQ Challenge?
Participants battle it out in the Community Healthy BBQ Challenge to cook the healthiest BBQ meal and bring the local community together in a fun activity that raises awareness of healthy eating.
Participants, which may include prominent members of the local community, such as the Mayor, Principal of a local public school, or a local GP or pharmacist, should be selected prior to the event. They will be provided with a variety of ingredients and will have 30 minutes to prepare a healthy BBQ meal. Judges will select the most imaginative and healthy meal as the winner. Possible judges can include a dietitian, local celebrity, a local chef, or a senior representative from your organisation, such as a CEO or General Manager.
Healthy eating and physical activity help maintain good health, prevent obesity and can help protect against some chronic diseases, such as some cancers, heart disease and type 2 diabetes.i
As an option, the event can raise money for local charities with a healthy BBQ lunch/dinner available on the day for a gold coin donation. This BBQ could replace the usual sausage sizzle with healthier alternatives.
Local businesses, such as fruit and vegetable stores, gyms, sports stores, and other health related businesses can be invited to set up stalls or host activities related to healthy living on the day.
The aim of this toolkit is to help you organise a community event such as a Community Healthy BBQ Challenge to help promote healthy eating in your local area. This toolkit includes: information on what the event is and how to organise it, some alternative event ideas, tips for hosting a healthy cooking event, what to do and when to do it, and information on getting local media involved in your event.
Following your event you may wish to send in some photos from the day to be included on the Measure Up website. Simply email them to info@measureup.gov.au. Remember to seek permission from those in the photos before you send them on (see the photo consent form (RTF 51 KB)).
You can also request a copy of the Healthy Food Fast recipe book to give as a prize, or to use for recipe suggestions at your event.
i Australian Institute of Health and Welfare 2008. Indicators for chronic diseases and their determinants 2008. Canberra: AIHW