More of these should find their way on to school menus this year. Photo: File.
The ACT’s public school canteens are in for a shake-up this year with the government about to hire a nutrition expert to assess menus, offer advice and make recommendations to ensure students can buy healthy food and drinks.
There are already ACT Public School Food and Drink standards and National Healthy School Canteen Guidelines designed to ensure healthy choices, but the body set up to help school canteens meet these, the Nutrition Support Service, went into recess when the pandemic closed schools.
As canteens reopened, the Education Directorate found increasing demand for support in developing healthy menus, and in 2022 and 2023, it conducted limited assessments of what school canteens were offering.
Last year’s budget provided funding to resurrect the nutrition service; now, a tender is out to secure a consultant to deliver it.
The Statement of Requirements says that all ACT public schools that either run a canteen or may be considering setting one up will be able to use the expert services. It is estimated that 88 canteens are operating in ACT public schools.
The consultant will also be running a ruler over the canteens so they comply with the ACT standards and national guidelines.
Initially, the consultant will help canteen operators with the availability and promotion of healthy food and drink options.
It won’t be involved in food preparation but will assess and develop menus throughout the school year, taking into account various dietary needs such as allergies, vegetarianism, and religious or cultural practices.
It will also research potential alternative food standards that differ from the current national canteen guidelines.
The consultant will also show canteen staff how to use and promote sustainable food practices and be environmentally aware in food selection, preparation and managing waste.
“The consultant will collaborate with the school canteen staff by providing educational sessions, setting shared goals, assisting in menu planning, providing cooking resources, and establishing monitoring and feedback systems,” the tender document says.
The government also wants to know if there are any barriers or obstacles to putting healthier menus in place and how these can be overcome.
It expects to receive a range of recommendations and the canteen assessments to be implemented by the end of the school year.
For students, it won’t just be a case of healthier choices at the canteen but part of their learning.
The consultant must also offer curriculum content that enhances students’ understanding of nutrition and its role in their overall well-being.
Obesity is a growing problem in Australia, leading to chronic health issues that are a major cause of infirmity and early death.
According to the ACT General Health Survey 2021, nearly one in three Canberra children aged 5 to 17 years were reported as being either overweight (19.2%) or obese (10.2%).
The tender closes on 23 January.
Original Article published by Ian Bushnell on Riotact.
