Tips for School Food Policy
The School Food Policy is a formal document, endorsed by the school's Board of Trustees and is pivotal to ensuring a Healthy Tuckshop. This document should also have the endorsement of the wider school community. The foods and beverages offered and sold within the school environment should be consistent with this policy. It has been noted that schools who translate their School Food Policy into action via a formalised process of active monitoring for policy compliance during the initial establishment of healthy food options seemed best able to ensure that the transition to healthy food options in the school was maintained.
We acknowledge that all schools have different needs and expectations - and one policy will not fit all or be able to address the unique environment of each school.
One of the first tasks of the Tuckshop Committee should be to review, rewrite or ratify the school's existing Food Policy.
We also recommend that the food policy should outline the type of food and beverage items used for fund raising or sponsorship, and ensure that unhealthy items are not endorsed. The food policy needs to establish the guidelines for school staff wishing to give their students treats - the treats should be healthy, otherwise an inconsistent message is being given to students and parents.
From reviewing an array of policies we recommend that a School Food Policy should contain the following elements:
l Clear guidelines on what food is made available to students;
l Criteria for the selection of food sold in the school, including objectives for health, nutritional value and portion size;
l A commitment to meeting F&BCS (MOH, 2007) recommendations;
l Consideration of healthy fundraising opportunities;
l Key objectives and goals for the establishment of a healthy school environment including cross-curricular implementation and co-ordination;
l A policy review schedule.
To ensure that the policy has the endorsement of the wider school community it is vital that consultation is conducted before the policy is taken to the BOT for ratification and implementation. This consultation includes (but is not limited to): all staff, students and parents. Click here for a sample policy.
More information is available in the Food and Nutrition for Healthy, Confident Kids: Guidelines to Support Healthy Eating Environments in New Zealand Early Childhood Education Services and Schools (MOE, 2007) toolkit, and if possible we would recommend that you consult a New Zealand Registered Dietitian (NZRD) or qualified Nutritionist to ensure that the School Food Policy represents best practice and encompasses any recent changes in nutritional theory and practice.
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