Nourishing the next generation of Aussies with Life Ed

How Sanitarium and Life Ed are helping Aussie kids build healthier habits through nutrition and health education.

Children are often described as sponges, absorbing the behaviours, routines and habits around them as they grow. This includes how they think about food, with early experiences playing a powerful role in forming lifelong attitudes towards nutrition and wellbeing.

Research shows that children who are educated early about making balanced, balanced food choices are more likely to grow into healthy and happy adults.* That’s why we partner with one of the leaders in this space, Life Ed, whose incredible team play a vital role in empowering Australian children with the trusted education needed to make informed, healthy choices throughout their lives.

Who is Life Ed?

Born from the belief that equitable access to health education is essential in developing independent and resilient adults, Life Ed has been a leading force in fostering wellbeing for more than four decades.

Through interactive classroom learning and community-led programs, the organisation brings health, safety and nutrition to life in engaging and accessible ways – supporting children aged 3–13 to build strong foundations in physical, emotional and social wellness.

By encouraging healthier habits early, Life Ed gives families across the nation the knowledge and practice to set them up for long-term positive health outcomes ranging from chronic disease prevention to positive mental health.

What difference are Sanitarium and Life Ed making together?

With a shared commitment to nourishing future generations, Sanitarium and Life Ed have been close partners since 2021 - combining our joint expertise in food and education to support children on the road to a healthier life.

At a time when supporting children’s health is more important than ever, we came together to create The Inside Story - an interactive lesson for Year 3 and 4 students that brings the human body to life, exploring how its systems work together and the positive impact of exercise and good nutrition.

With a little help from beloved giraffe mascot Healthy Harold, the program delivers fun and engaging, interactive learning modules to equip young people with the confidence to make more informed food choices.

Partnership impact so far:

• 5,000 schools reached
• 600,000 students received The Inside Story each year
• Communities benefited nationwide, from the Kimberley to regional towns across New South Wales and Victoria

How did this come to life in Moree?

Life Ed recently delivered the Moree Festival of Health to promote wellbeing among the regional NSW town’s children. Designed in collaboration with the local community - and led by Healthy Harold himself - the program reached eight primary schools and more than 600 students, with Moree Public School also receiving The Inside Story module for its pupils.

To ensure participants had a nutritious (and delicious) start to the day, we hosted “Healthy Harold’s Breakfast Morning”, a spread featuring iconic Aussie favourite Sanitarium products Weet-Bix, So Good plant-based milks and UP&GO to fuel effective learning throughout the Festival.

For Sanitarium Accredited Practising Dietitian Trish Guy, community engagement activities like this are key to shaping healthy habits.

“Raising healthy kids is a whole-of-community responsibility and something we’ve believed in at Sanitarium for more than 125 years,” she says. “Our partnership with Life Ed supports more primary school children and their families to make positive decisions about their wellbeing for the long term, which we know lays the foundations for a happy and healthy life.”

Life Ed NSW CEO Jonathan Peatfield said programs like the Moree Festival of Health play an important role in building confidence and healthy habits early.

“It was incredibly rewarding to see the students enjoying Healthy Harold’s Breakfast,” he said. “Programs like this help children build confidence, make informed choices and develop healthy habits from an early age.”

How can early education shape healthier generations?

When children are given the tools to understand their health, the impact extends far beyond the classroom. It goes a long way in supporting stronger, more resilient communities for the long-term.

Ongoing collaboration between education and nutrition experts plays a vital role in making this knowledge accessible and lasting, and partnerships like Life Ed continue to help make this possible for today’s generation of Aussie kids – and the generations to come after them.