Healthy Primary School Canteens

Abstract

Initiated by Berwickwide Community Health Service (BCHS), the Healthy Canteens Project commenced in June 1997. Initiatives were completed in December 1999. BCHS focused on primary school canteens as potential leading advocates for healthy eating within the primary school setting and the broader school community. The Health Promoting Schools concept (National Health and Medical Research Council, 1996) was a main guiding framework in this project with particular attention in the areas of 'Organisation Ethos and Environment' and 'Partnerships'. Schools were encouraged to examine and develop a healthy canteen environment and to network with other health/welfare agencies and schools. Although not addressed in detail due to limited resources, the importance of the third area of focus in the Health Promoting Schools concept, 'Curriculum', was emphasised where possible throughout the project. The project targeted key people with an interest and a role in the school canteen, to ensure greater involvement and more likelihood of positive outcomes. A 'healthy canteen' was defined as one that was safe, clean, profitable and providing a range of high nutritional value foods. Strategies were directed at enabling schools to work towards meeting this definition. Approaches used in the project included community consultation and participation, structural change, a review of settings, health education, intersectoral collaboration, skill development, policy development and striving for sustainability. The project highlighted the importance of community participation during the planning, implementation and evaluation stages of a project. It also showed that the formation of partnerships between organisations and across sectors greatly increases an initiative's chances of reaching its target group and achieving positive outcomes.