Posted by on
17/11/2024
Bubble Muffin during one of his interactive cooking demonstrations
He’s an energetic and bright children’s entertainer, dazzling crowds of youngsters across Australia with his cheery Bubble Muffin Kids Cooking Club – yet there’s purpose behind Bubble Muffin the performer.
Passionate about teaching children about where their food comes from, Bubble Muffin developed his interactive cooking demonstrations to help inspire children, and their parents, into making healthier food choices.
And when it comes to growing his savings, Bubble Muffin – aka Kevin Starow – is equally inspired, and proud to be a Rabobank Online Saver, where 100 percent of Rabobank deposits support Australian farmers, food and agribusiness.
“The brilliant thing about Bubble Muffin is that I get to help support rural and regional Australia – I’ve performed everywhere from Kunanurra to Mungindi - and it feels really rewarding to support these communities,” Kevin explained.
“To put on a performance, to entertain and help educate rural students, and to contribute money into the local economy is something I’m particularly proud of, and it’s a value that aligns strongly with Rabobank’s sense of community.”
Discovering Rabobank’s support of farmers was motivation for change, and Kevin made the switch – earning himself a few additional interest points thanks to Rabobank’s High Interest Savings Account introductory rate in the meantime.
“Rabobank’s proposition supporting food and agriculture, and helping feed the world more sustainably, appealed to me enormously, and even without the introductory rate, the HISA is still extremely competitive in the market.”
Healthy eating starts at home
Kevin is eager to help address childhood obesity, and his cooking demonstrations provide children with the tools they need to make healthy food choices.
It’s a societal issue he believes requires a collaborative approach.
“If parents haven’t been educated on how to eat well or how their food is produced, then who is to blame?”
“As a society, we have an obligation, and I see a strong correlation between the work I do, and Rabobank’s purpose – as a community, we have the ability to come together all working towards the same goal and help solve this widespread challenge.”
Rabobank’s partnership with the cooking program Farm to Fork, which showcases recipes created on clients’ farms using their fresh produce, is a like-minded initiative Kevin applauds.
Born and raised on a small Victorian cattle farm, Kevin now resides in Melbourne, yet he doesn’t let distance deter his travelling showpiece.
“I guess a lot of city-based entertainers are a bit hesitant to travel as far afield as I do, but anywhere there are kids, I’ll be there!”
Working in some of Australia’s most remote Indigenous communities has been confronting, with groceries expensive and fresh produce, rare.
“If you’re lucky enough to find a tomato, it’s usually four weeks old and falling apart, and unfortunately because of this many of these communities opt for convenience food over fresh produce – there’s been such a sad shift since our grandparents' era when you ate what you grew.”
Kevin praised the various kitchen garden programs running across many Australian schools, and his character, Bubble Muffin, is an extension of this philosophy.
“I want to give children and parents the keys to make healthy decisions – good food can be delicious – even for little ones, as fussy as they can be.”
Creative ways to engage children
With Bubble Muffin Kids Cooking Club having featured at national events such as Sheepvention in Victoria, Wagin Woolorama in WA, and Moree on a Plate in NSW, Kevin has built a strong rural and regional following.
One of his proudest achievements to date was running a competition for children, inviting them to design a healthy version of a traditional burger.
“It was to coincide with our performance at Sheepvention, so the protein had to be lamb,” Kevin explained. “The children prepared a recipe, videoed their process, and sent it into us, and what they created seriously blew me away.”
He said students had clearly taken the time to research, with some children even making their own burger buns, and cheese.
“One school, Dartmoor Primary School got all 26 of its students involved, and produced a video and ‘Lamborghini’ recipe based off the popular Sam Kekovich annual MLA lamb campaign – it was very clever and something those children will remember for the rest of their lives.”
Kevin is looking forward to continuing to get out and about, in the city and the county, and help spread the healthy, fresh food story – and is heartened to know he’s supporting Rabobank to share the same message.
“Everything we can do to support farmers, promote fresh and healthy food, and contribute to vibrant rural communities helps, and depositing my savings with Rabobank, which has values that so closely align with my own, was a no-brainer.”
