Bringing tradition to the table: How a Samoan pre-school is redefining healthy lunchboxes

Published: 2 February 2026

In Māngere, Samoan early learning service Fetu Taiala Aoga Amata teamed up with the Heart Foundation to tackle a common challenge: how to support their whānau/aiga to create lunchboxes for their children that are delicious, healthy, affordable, and still rooted in cultural traditions.

Seeing the need to provide parents with practical nutrition information about lunchbox food options, manager Poinsettia Leauma reached out to the Heart Foundation for support.

What began as concern about what was going into children’s lunchboxes grew into an inspiring, hands-on workshop that left parents feeling informed, confident, and connected.

With some parents’ first language Samoan and others English, Heart Foundation nutrition advisor Regina Wypych asked Pacific Heartbeat training facilitators Tampy Bernard and Gabriel Tuala to deliver a collaborative bilingual session, which she says meant “everyone felt included and heard.”

A keen group of parents and teachers gathered for an interactive workshop focused on the four food groups and practical ways to build nutritious lunches using items from their own kitchens.

Using visual aids, real-life examples, and plenty of laughter, they discovered how all four food groups – vegetables and fruit, grain foods, protein foods, and milk and milk products – work together to nourish children.

Parents then designed their own lunchboxes using what they had at home, applying the four food groups and workshop resources to bring those ideas to life. Manager Poinsettia Leauma said this hands-on approach unified nutrition education at school and at home.

“It’s had a significant impact on educating our parents in ways to be creative when preparing children's lunchboxes. It encourages parents to try out new foods from the different food groups with their children.

“A unified message means when parents and teachers receive the same information in a way that they both understand and can relate to culturally, they can create a consistent, supportive environment for children's healthy eating habits both at home and at school.”

Pacific Heartbeat facilitator Tampy Bernard agreed, describing the workshop as highly educational and incredibly successful, especially as parents began to “see the penny drop” about what a balanced lunchbox looks like in practice.

“For parents to suddenly understand how to get the four food groups into the lunchbox – what that means, and what it looks like – was really special.”

That shift was echoed by one parent, who said the workshop opened her eyes to how subtle changes could make a big difference.

“As parents with so many commitments, sometimes we don't put much thought into our kids' lunches. I thought sandwiches, yoghurt, snacks, chips, biscuits with a piece of fruit were enough.

“What I didn't realise was the amount of sugar and sodium those snacks actually contained. The workshop focused a lot on healthier options as opposed to what we were already putting into our kids’ lunches and highlighted the importance of the different food groups of fruits, vegetables, starch, protein, milk and milk products.

“They understood the cost of living and provided cheaper and healthier alternatives.”

The Heart Foundation team also shared resources such as the Pasifika Tastes cookbook and offered tips for nourishing versions of much-loved traditional dishes.

Pacific Heartbeat training facilitator Gabriel Tuala said: “Initially parents were concerned Pasifika foods might be considered bad. But we were able to share that many of our traditional staple Pasifika foods are still good for us, like the kalo (taro), and there are ways that we can make them be part of a nutritious, balanced way of eating.

What made the evening particularly valuable was delivering the workshop bilingually, which deepened understanding and helped parents feel heard.

“Working together on a bilingual session was incredible,” Tampy said.

“As Samoans, often the language barrier means we’d be polite and nod even if we didn’t understand something. Being able to translate resources, games and discussions meant it enhanced understanding and made everyone feel comfortable.”

For more information about what the Heart Foundation offers early learning services visit www.heartfoundation.org.nz/educators/healthy-heart-award

Heathy Heart Award