KickStart for Kids is proud to introduce a new addition to our school lunch support, with the rollout of mini muffins to schools across South Australia to help support students who arrive at school without food.

The muffins will be distributed through our emergency lunch program and will be available on days when children go without food, helping ensure students still have access to something nutritious during the school day.

For some children, lunchtime can be one of the hardest parts of the school day. While their classmates open packed lunches, they have nothing. Food insecurity continues to affect families and children across South Australia, with research by McCrindle finding that 15 per cent of Australian children go to school without a packed lunch or lunch money.

For many students, missing lunch has a direct impact on their ability to concentrate, participate in class and maintain energy throughout the afternoon. Teachers regularly report that hunger affects behaviour, confidence and learning outcomes in the classroom.

The new mini muffins have been developed in partnership with South Australian food brand Veghead, with a shared objective of helping children facing food insecurity access nutritious food while increasing their vegetable intake.

Designed by Veghead founder Catherine Hosking, the muffins incorporate vegetables and are designed as a practical, nourishing option to help students maintain energy and focus throughout the school day. Through the partnership, Veghead will supply chocolate veggie-boosted mini muffins to KickStart for Kids each school term.

The initiative is expected to deliver around 100,000 muffins each year into the emergency lunch program, incorporating more than 450 kilograms of vegetables into the recipes.
KickStart for Kids Founder Ian Steel OAM said the initiative reflects the organisation’s belief that access to food is fundamental to learning.

“At KickStart for Kids, we firmly believe that education creates power and opportunity,” Ian said.

“When children come to school hungry or facing hardship, they simply can’t engage fully in learning. That gap compounds over time and can shape the rest of their lives. Initiatives like this are a practical way to make sure no child is expected to learn on an empty stomach.”

KickStart for Kids currently supports more than 360 South Australian schools, delivering more than 60,000 breakfasts and 10,000 lunches each week.

As the organisation enters its fifteenth year, KickStart for Kids continues to work towards ensuring children have access to food when they need it, helping them feel supported, focused and ready to learn.