What came first, the chicken or the egg? According to the British Nutrition Foundation, 41 per cent of children under the age of eight don't know where eggs come from, let alone how to cook one.

New Zealand celebrity chef Michael Van de Elzen is on a mission to help tackle Kiwi kids' soaring obesity rates with a new kids cookbook, ‘Good From Scratch', and tour of New Zealand schools and community groups, including the Bay of Plenty.

Michael wants to make sure Kiwi kids know what's in their food and, most importantly, how to cook.

"What I've found after working with groups all over New Zealand is that often it starts with the next generation. In most cases if you teach the children, they go home and teach their parents.

'It's not about reinventing the wheel, but changing up some Kiwi favourites such as fish and chips and pies, and adding a healthy, easy-to-cook twist to them."

The father of two has been spurred into action over his growing concerns about child obesity in New Zealand, with new research showing one in eight children between the age of two and 14 years is obese.

"After having our two girls, Hazel and Ivy, the reports around child obesity in New Zealand has become increasingly worrying to me. I'm a chef, I want to educate and upskill our Kiwi kids and I feel hugely motivated to make a difference.

"Plus, having grown up on a chicken farm, you can be guaranteed by the end of my nationwide tour, at least our Kiwi kids will know what came first – the chicken or the egg!"

Schools and community groups can apply to have a ‘Good From Scratch' event in their area, and if successful, will receive an event pack to assist them with the set-up and marketing of the event, and receive 100 per cent of ticket sales.

"The ‘Good From Scratch Tour' is about knowing what's in your food, and what you're fuelling your body with. Getting in the kitchen from a young age helps build that association with food, and teaches life skills while also knowing how to make healthy meals and snacks,” says Michael.

Michael will be releasing his cookbook on October 5, with the tour beginning on October 15 until early December. He will be in the Bay of Plenty from November 17-20. To apply for an event at your school or community group visit: vandeelzen.com/good-scratch-book-tour