Hi there! I’m Gemma Brown – a teacher, mum, and avid cook with a passion for real food, made with love, and shared with family. My love for cooking, along with a desire to help kids develop a healthy relationship with food, inspired me to create The Tuck Box Initiative – a fun, fresh approach helping kids build healthy eating habits, while also caring for the environment.
As a school teacher, I’ve seen countless lunchboxes come and go, and I know we can do better. While processed foods are convenient, they often lack the nutrition growing bodies need and the packaging adds to a growing waste problem.
That’s why I started this initiative – to offer a simple, practical alternative for busy families. I’m a big believer in nude food: skipping the plastic, avoiding the over-processed stuff, and getting back to basics with homemade, whole foods.
To help families on this journey, I created The Good Food Journal – part activity book, part recipe guide, and full of fun. It encourages kids to take charge of their food choices with hands-on cooking ideas and lunchbox inspiration.
I also founded The Caloundra Cookery School, where kids can roll up their sleeves during the holidays and get cooking! These workshops, led by trained chefs, are designed to build confidence in the kitchen through creativity, learning, and lots of laughs.
It’s amazing to see how simple actions at home – like cooking together or using reusable containers – can lead to meaningful conversations about health, sustainability, and caring for our planet. The Tuck Box Initiative is more than a healthy eating program – it’s a movement for mindful, meaningful food choices for the next generation.
Learn more, book a workshop, or grab your copy of The Good Food Journal at www.mytuckbox.com.au.
Nutrition and Waste – The Issue:
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- 94% of Aussie kids are not eating the recommended amount of fruit and vegetables
- On average, 50% of 18-24 year-old Australians are classified as overweight or obese, and 80% of 65 yr+ adults (National Obesity Strategy: 2022-2032)
- Diet-related health issues lead to cardiovascular diseases; the number one cause of death in the western world.
- The average school lunchbox contains 4-6 disposable soft plastic wrappers
- Australians are increasingly turning to ‘take-away’ or eat-out meals (estimated at 30% of total household food budget)
- Approx. 30% of total waste in Australia is food waste, with an estimated 7.6 million tonnes of food, wasted each year, (including ‘5 million sandwiches and 3 million pieces of fruit‘. Oz Harvest).
STRAWBERRY SMOOTHIE
INGREDIENTS:
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- 1 cup water
- ¼ cup coconut milk (or any milk!)
- 1.5 cups frozen strawberries (or tired fresh strawberries)
- 1 banana
- 10 dates, pitted (natural sweetener)
- ¼ cup cashew nuts
(adds a creamy texture, and is rich in
good fats, protein and nutrients) - 1 tbsp flaxseed
(if you have it – helps bind the mixture)
Optional: Ice cubes + 1-2 fresh basil leaves! (basil accentuates the strawberry flavour!)
METHOD:
Either soak the cashew nuts in a cup of water overnight, blend them in an electric chopper, or use a pestle and mortar, before adding to the liquid in the blender.
Mix the ingredients in a blender, starting with the liquids. After about one minute, when there are no more lumps, pour into 3 glasses or mason jars.
TOPPING:
Sprinkle with some chopped walnuts, cashew nuts or fresh mint.
