The snacks dominating sales at school canteens

SOME unhealthy snacks dominating sales at school tuckshops “you wouldn’t even give to a dog”. Despite a strong push for Victorian children to choose nutritious foods, is it time to scale back on the unhealthy options?

UNHEALTHY chicken nuggets, hotdogs and pies are topping sales at school canteens despite strong efforts to make Victoria’s children choose nutritious foods.

Unwholesome snacks are dominating kids’ school menus, with more than $100,000 spent by students on hotdogs across 50 schools in the past year.

The processed sausages were the second most popular item at the 50 schools across Victoria and NSW, with 26,735 sold, second only to chicken nuggets with 27,536 sold at a price of $30,000.

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Natalya, 7, at St Bede’s Primary is first in line to try the nutritious food options for Healthy Tuckshop Day on June 22. Picture: David Caird

Sushi is the first healthy option to appear in the most popular list, coming in fifth place after sugar-laden flavoured milk.

The analysis from My School Connect — an online canteen ordering system — shows despite efforts to promote wholesome foods at schools, including the Victorian Government’s healthy choices traffic light system, children are still buying the bad stuff.

“You wouldn’t even give it to a dog, some of these foods,” My School Connect sales director Julia Stagg said.

“We’re blind if we think what we’re feeding our kids is right — we keep giving our kids these processed foods that aren’t doing them any good.”

The issue pushed the business to create Healthy Tuckshop Day, on June 22, where schools sign a pledge and commit prioritise nutrition in their canteen.

Balwyn North’s St Bede’s Primary has signed up, with tuckshop co-ordinator Viviana Rossios stating in the past few years the school has fazed in healthier foods.

“We brought in more food to cook and connected with our local butcher,” she said.

“Now I’m seeing kids buy more ricepaper rolls, soups, pastas and salads — sushi is very popular.

“I don’t think we will cancel (the party pies and sausage rolls) because some parents use it as a treat, but I know a lot of school have taken them off and not missed them at all.”

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Mrs Stagg said schools had to take more responsibility, with many now outsourcing their canteen to businesses which may prioritise making money over children’s health.

“Some kids are eating from the school canteen every day,” she said.

She had seen dramatic sales success from schools that promoted healthy items by putting them on the tops of menus, showcased the foods with photos and introduces special sushi days.

But often, Mrs Stagg said schools that introduce healthier options face resistance and even backlash from parents.

“A school will change the menu — hommus and carrot sticks, protein balls — and parents will still order crappy things for their kids,” she said.

“Schools need to commit and parents also have to think about what kids are eating and how it’s affecting their behaviour.

“There’s got to be a push from both directions.”

@ashargoon

MOST POPULAR FOOD AT SCHOOL CANTEENS

1 — Chicken nuggets

2 — Hot dogs

3 — Pies/sausage rolls

4 — Flavoured milk

5 — Sushi

6 — Pasta

7 — Pizza

8 — Dim sims

9 — Chips/popcorn/Grain Waves

10 — Burgers

11 — Sandwiches

12 — Fruit

13 — Salad

14 — Wraps

June 1, 2017 — June 1, 2018

My School Connect data from 50 VIC and NSW schools