‘Canteen Queen’ Brooke Flanagan opens 12th location at Thomas Reddall High School

Just a few years ago a Macarthur mum took over her very first school canteen. Now, she runs 12 canteens across southwest Sydney and loves every second of it.

For one mum of two who proudly wears the name “Canteen Queen” there is nothing more important than making sure children have access to healthy food, and it’s a mission she takes seriously.

Brooke Flanagan opened her first canteen at Campbelltown North Public School in 2017, and since then has opened another 11 locations throughout southwest Sydney reaching as far as Chipping Norton.

“When my eldest daughter Ruby started primary school, I saw the lack of healthy options at our canteens and so I really started to do some research,” she said.

“I found out that most of the schools in the Macarthur region only provide what’s on their set menus, and most of that consists of frozen and processed food or horrific junk.

Gregory Hills mum Brooke Flanagan.

Brooke Flanagan with a photo of herself in Year 12 after opening at Thomas Reddall High School

“Rising obesity in our young ones is skyrocketing and I wanted to act now to educate our future generation on what’s good for you, and I also thought if some of the fussier kids see other kids eating healthy snacks they might be more interested.”

Miss Flanagan grew up in housing commission and remembers seeing children around her not having much access to healthy food. In fact, her mum used to pack extra as some of her fellow classmates were sent to school with “rock hard frozen meat pies”.

“Things like that I think sparked the interest for me in wanting to help educate kids on what is healthy and teach them that just because something is nutritious does not mean it isn’t delicious,” she said.

“I was so grateful when I opened my first one and I knew I wanted to take over a few, but I didn’t think it would be this many but I plan to keep expanding.”

The focus of the recipes is healthy and delicious.

Brooke Flanagan says she absolutely loves connecting with the students.

Miss Flanagan has just opened her first high school canteen, and it’s a place that holds a special meaning.

“I just opened at Thomas Reddall High School in Ambarvale and that was where I finished Year 12 at, so it always feels a bit like I have come full circle,” she said.

“It’s also exciting that I am starting to branch into high schools now as I think it’s really important that young teenagers have access to delicious and healthy food.”

Miss Flanagan, who has 95,000 followers on her social media, was fondly nicknamed “Canteen Queen” by media outlets when she first opened.

She has now trademarked the phrase, and said it just further solidified the career she has chosen is “just me”.

“I love every second of what I do and I love meeting all the kids and getting them to try new things,” Miss Flanagan said.

“You see a difference from what they will eat when they first come to what they are willing to try at the end of term.”

It’s not just about helping the children, but Miss Flanagan’s goal is to help the parents put healthy practices into place at home. Once a term, she hosts a cooking class at the schools’ halls where she teaches some recipes and easy tips.

For more information visit brookescanteen.com.au or search Brooke’s Canteen on Facebook