Ex-Black Fern Kendra Cocksedge & Ex-All Black Karl Tu'inukuafe share why food literacy is important to them
To get the most from food, our kids need to be taught how it impacts each part of their lives. After all, one thing they will do every day is eat food!
Food literacy is a taonga (treasure), that strengthens lifelong health, builds more resilient communities, and reduces our collective impact on Te Taiao (the environment).
Together, we can ensure every child in Aotearoa grows up food literate.
Over several generations, we’ve seen a consistent decline in food literacy, with 30% of premature deaths now linked to diet.
By supporting teachers and parents, EATucation vastly increases the amount of time tamariki spend learning about food.
Research shows that embedding food literacy in learning from a young age leads to improved academic, behavioural, and health outcomes.
The time to act is now. Together, we can nourish a food-literate nation.
Do you struggle to find time to teach your kids about food?
With EATucation, your kids can learn about food in a fun and engaging way at school! Our lessons connect food literacy to the topics kids learn about every day, from Maths to Literacy to Science; we cover it all!
Do you find messaging around food confusing?
Behind every EATucation lesson, stands our team of food experts. We're here to ensure your kids receive the right message at the right time. Delivering bite-sized bits of life-changing learning is what we're all about.
Do you want your kids to be adventurous eaters?
On the EATucation program, kids are taken on a culinary journey that connects them to kai and culture. Guided by our friendly puppets, Kind Kiwi, Cleaver Kia and the Thoughtful Tuatara, they'll learn about the wide world of food and their place within it.
Each ready-made unit is flexible and adaptable! We've done the hard work of connecting food literacy to the curriculum. With a mix of theory and practical options to suit any school setting or teacher's needs 🙌
Careful Cooks - Health and Physical Education Curriculum
In this unit, students learn the basics of kitchen safety and hygiene through a range of games and hands-on activities, ensuring that their food preparation is both fun and safe!
Lunchtime Legends - Technology Curriculum
In this unit, students unpack how the Technological Process can help them design the perfect lunchbox!
Kai, Whānau & Hapori - Social Sciences Curriculum
In this unit, students explore how food brings whānau and community together, celebrating the joy of shared meals and traditions.
Super Snacks - Technology Curriculum
In this unit, students discover how the Technological Process can support their busy days with regular snacks!
Kai-Tech Innovators - Technology Curriculum
In this unit, students learn all about technology in the whare kai! From hāngi to air fryers, potato peelers, and pātaka, it's all part of the great technological journey!
Eco-Kai Creators - Science Curriculum
In this unit, students explore the connection between our kai and te taiao, learning about sustainable food practices, the importance of biodiversity, and how our kai choices impact our ecosystems.
Noodle Ninjas - Technology Curriculum
In this unit, students utilise the Technological Process to delve into the delicious world of noodles and learn how to turn their pot of noodles into a nourishing meal!
Healthy, Thriving Communities - Health & PE and Social Sciences Curriculums
In this unit, students explore food choices that affect personal and community health to support our communities to be healthy and thriving.
Matariki Magic (Year 0-3 and Year 4-6)
In these units, students will explore the magic of matariki, from how to build a traditional hāngī to what Matariki represents and how it connects us!
Further 2026 Units TBC - Watch this space!
Great question! See the options here , but ultimately, the best thing you can do is share our story with the teachers, principal, leadership team, Board of Trustees, PTA and anyone else at your school who believes teachers should be supported with ready-made resources that build our kid's food literacy one bite-sized lesson at a time! From there, they can get in touch to find out more!
Nope! We work really hard to provide teachers with ready-made resources that save them time. Our lessons also align with the curriculum and incorporate the Literacy and Numeracy learning they're required to deliver. This means that each of our lessons ticks a range of boxes and provides the food literacy that we know kids need.
Nope! We create resources that connect to every aspect of the curriculum, and each lesson includes Literacy and Numeracy links, as well as food-based structured literacy texts. This means we connect each subject in the curriculum to food and build kids' food literacy along the way!
Absolutely! We want everyone to benefit from our program! That's why it has been specifically designed to be flexible for any school's needs, regardless of their location, size, or whether they have a flash kitchen or just the basics.
EATucation is made by teachers for teachers, and a big part of that is connecting food literacy to the curriculum. As such, our program is specifically designed for schools, ensuring that we focus on meeting the needs of teachers and bringing learning to life in the classroom.
Founded by Matt Robinson, a Michelin-trained chef 👨🏻🍳 who fuelled his passion for food cooking internationally before returning to Aotearoa to re-train as a teacher, spending the next seven years in the classroom.
Following this, he launched EATucation to spread his love of Food Education nationwide.
Matt believes creating the change we want to see in the world begins with ensuring the future of tomorrow is cared for and considered today.
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