New menu keeps kids healthy and happy

by Tristan Broomhall

April 4, 2008

The tuck shop will now follow the Traffic Light guidelines set by the WA School Canteens Association, which divides food and drink into three categories. Foods in the ‘green’ category are recommended, ‘yellow’ foods can only account for 40 per cent of the menu, while food categorised as ‘red’ is banned.

Redbanned are sprinkles, cordial, and everyone’s nostalgic favourite, polony.

Canteen manager Lee-Anne Guise attended a training session before developing the new menu. She says the school has fully embraced the WASCA  guidelines.

 “The students really enjoy the healthy foods on offer,” Ms Guise said, “and it gives me and our dedicated canteen volunteers a real buzz.”

The system is also used away from the canteen when choosing treats for classroom prizes, and the food served on excursions and school camps.

School principal Phillippa Berkhout commended Ms Guise and her committee for helping change the eating habits of the entire school in just one term.

“Students are now eating salads with their meals, eating fresh fruit and drinking milk and water instead of sugar filled pre-mixes,” she said. “The red foods have gone.”               

The program isn’t just limited to the playground. A weekly school newsletter recommends parents apply the system at home, and also provides articles on healthy living.

Striking pies and chips off the menu hasn’t affected the canteen’s bottom line either, with Ms Guise saying the tuck shop made record profits in 2007.

“The canteen has run fantastic promotions and meal deals to encourage healthy eating such as plates of fresh vegies with low fat dip,” she said. “The students loved them.”

Parents are encouraged to find out more about the new guidelines by visiting http://det.wa.edu.au/healthyfoodanddrink.