disease and bad diet plus the financial strain of being a single parent led to Hope suffering a heart attack last year, which she is recovering from slowly.

''Life gets a little bit tough sometimes," she said.

Now the mother-of-three, along with other parents, is being given a chance to get back on her feet and change her lifestyle through a trial program run by the Heathcote Primary School.

Co-ordinator Michele Witham (left) with parent and student Hope (right) learning about the school's kitchen garden herbs. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

Principal Kate Ballantyne said what initially started off as a Stephanie Alexander kitchen-garden program at the school was extended to the community as a trial with the help of a local community bank funding grant.

"The kitchen has been acare of her two children with autism. ( ABC Central Victoria: Larissa Romensky )

Sandy, a single mother of two boys said she had always liked to cook.

"Things that weren't so healthy, like sausage rolls, spaghetti, you know, the good stuff," she said.

She said she was excited about learning how to increase her repertoire which now includes baked pumpkin and traditional mushroom and chicken risotto, served with salad and a lemon cake.

As a mother of two children with autism her greatest challenge was meeting her two son's needs.

"Making sure they're comfortable and safe and have what they need, because it is harder for them to function in the world than it is for me," she said.

Sandy said she was slightly apprehensive about introducing her sons to new food but