NSW Healthy School Canteen strategy in 48 Central Coast schools

It can be challenging to get kids to eat healthy food, but the region’s schools are leading the way and health authorities are pretty chuffed about it.

Henry Kendall High School students Siobhan Wilby and Oliver Worrad with canteen franchisee Jackie Stansfield and some healthy choices on offer at the school canteen. Picture: Sue Graham

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Chicken nuggets and pies are making way for healthy and wholesome lunches at school

canteens across the Central Coast — and it is not just the parents who are happy with the

changes.

Figures obtained from Central Coast Local Health District show 70 per cent of Central Coast Department of Education schools (48 schools) currently meet the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy.

The strategy is a joint initiative of the Department of Education and NSW Health, developed with the support of the non-government schooling sector.

The Australian Dietary Guidelines and national food and drink labelling system, Health Star Ratings, forms the basis of the strategy’s criteria.

All NSW schools are required to increase the healthy food and drink options to more than 75 per cent by December.

On of the healthy choices offered by Fresh Food Fast at Henry Kendall High school canteen. Picture: Sue Graham

Of the Central Coast schools that don’t currently meet the strategy, many are actively engaged with CCLHD’s Health Promotion Service and working towards submitting their menus via the NSW School Canteen Menu Check Service.

NSW Health will continue to work with schools to support them to meet the December goal.

Fresh Food Fast owner Jackie Stansfield — who has experience in both primary and high

school canteens locally — said children “just got on with it” when it came to menu changes.

“People underestimate kids and what they will eat sometimes,” Ms Stansfield said.

‘We’re doing food the kids like but we’re making it from scratch.”

Central Coast Local Health District Director Health Promotion and Population Health Improvement spokeswoman Niki Kajons said a healthy school canteen reinforces lessons about health in the classroom.

Some of the healthy choices offered by Fresh Food Fast at Henry Kendall High School canteen. Picture: Sue Graham

“Achieving the Healthy School Canteen Strategy across the state is expected to make a significant contribution to the Premier’s priority to reduce child obesity,” she said.

Fresh Food Fast has operated the canteen at Woodport Public School, Erina, for five years,

and has been making meals for St Patrick’s Primary School, East Gosford, for three years.

They started operating the Henry Kendall High School, West Gosford, canteen this year and

are taking on the canteen of Tuggerah Lakes Secondary College, Tumbi Umbi campus,

from next term.

Woodport Public School’s canteen was one of the first to be officially recognised as adhering to the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy. The NSW Office of Preventive Health has used the canteen as a case study and has produced two videos about its layout and promotion of healthy foods. 

“We were one of the first in NSW to pass the strategy as there wasn’t much I need to do.

“I genuinely didn’t find it that complicated,” Fresh Food Fast owner Jackie Stansfield said.

She said she made some “unpopular” decisions from day one at Woodport.

“I got rid of the slushy machine, two-minute noodles and chicken nuggets,” she said.

“The kids surprised everyone and didn’t complain.”

Ms Stansfield makes a point of displaying the healthiest items on the front counter.

“The homemade items and fruit are on the front counter and the kids, they buy with their

eyes,” she said.

“I did what I thought I needed to do and it happened to fit in with the strategy.”

Henry Kendall students Siobhan Wilby and Oliver Worrad with some healthy choices offered by Fresh Food Fast at the school canteen. Picture: Sue Graham

She said the most popular items at the Woodport canteen were beef lasagne and chicken

and vegetable fried rice.

Ms Stansfield confessed to being nervous about the challenge of getting teenagers to eat

healthy food when she started at Henry Kendall, after she completely changed what was on

offer.

“When we started, we would sell maybe five salads a day, now we’d sell 35,” she said.

“And there is a very limited drink selection — water, sugar free juice and milk. We don’t need 20 drinks to my mind.”

She added that the most popular menu items at the high school were the chicken Caesar

wrap and salad rolls.

“It’s evolved really,” Ms Stansfield said.

“And now we’ve got that formula (at Henry Kendall) that we can take and put it in Tumbi

campus.”

As she has taken on more schools, Fresh Food Fast’s catering arm of the business has also

expanded.

“I’ve been working in the food industry for 30 years and people are more aware of eating

healthy than they have ever been,” she said.