The Amigo School Nutrition Program was launched in June 2019
Thanks to the generosity of the Ted Manson Foundation we were able to supply hundreds of Amigo Bars and Amigo Nutrition Educational Packs to Diocesan School for Girls to help improve nutritional awareness and help educate New Zealand children on maintaining good nutritional choices.
But this was just the beginning of our journey.
The Challenge
Numerous studies have demonstrated a link between poor nutrition and learning.
These studies have also shown that children’s mood, cognitive and memory skills are compromised if they don’t have the correct level of amino acids to support healthy development. Every parent knows that if their children are hungry, they get ‘hangry’. However, it’s very difficult to deliver the optimum nutritional meal, balanced ‘en mass’ at an economically sustainable price.
Nutritionally balanced meals should comprise of a mixture of portions of fruit, carbohydrates, fibre and low-fat proteins which contain all the amino acids, vitamins and minerals to promote healthy growth and development. Two of the hidden problems facing parents is that children don’t like healthy foods, and the foods they like are often nutritionally limited. Not only this, It’s also strategically impossible to supply children with school lunches during the school holidays.
174,000
New Zealand children live in food-insecure households.
174,000
New Zealand children live in food-insecure households.
We talked with children across New Zealand, getting their input each step of the way
The Amigo Bar contains all the amino acids, vitamins and minerals to support healthy development. The 40g bars are nutritionally dense and satisfying, providing instant and sustainable energy through the school day.
New Zealand's first five star rated food bar
supplying essential nutrients that may be missing from a child's diet
New Zealand's first five star rated food bar
supplying essential nutrients that may be missing from a child's diet
As well as being tasty, it's also tooth-friendly!
This is achieved by using sugar alternatives derived from sugar beet.
As well as being tasty, it's also tooth-friendly!
This is achieved by using sugar alternatives derived from sugar beet.
The Amigo Solution
Founder of Eat My Lunch, Lisa King, noted a decline in children's health and nutrition during the holidays due to no access to healthy school lunches
So, we created the Amigo School Nutrition Pack. This pack is a way to combat the decline of children’s health during the school holidays by providing them with a supply of Amigo Bars to bridge the gap, as well as educational material around nutrition to help them make better food choices while away from school.
We have partnered with Eat My Lunch to help us deliver these packs for kids to take home during the school holidays.