Here’s to good health for our schoolchildren

SAUSAGE rolls are out and sushi is in as Tasmanian schools lead the way to healthier eating.

For Sun Tas. Rachel Chilcott canteen manager standing in front of the canteen with some of the healthy options available. Healthy eating for kids at Albuera Street Primary School. Picture Nikki Davis-Jones

SAUSAGE rolls are out and sushi is in as Tasmanian schools lead the way to healthier eating.

The Tasmanian School Canteen Association says the state has the nation’s highest proportion of tuckshops with healthy eating accreditation.

Out of the state’s 290 schools, 215 have canteens and as of this week 50 are accredited by the TSCA.

Association chairwoman Julie Dunbabin said another 63 schools were working ­towards accreditation.

“Over the past two years we have seen quite a dramatic ­increase in schools that have become accredited,” Ms Dunbabin said.

And 26 schools in the state have achieved gold accreditation, which means they have menus approved by dietitians, related classroom activities, and a whole-of-school commitment to healthy food.

Albuera Street Primary students, from left,William Powell, 11, Mohammed Alodhaibee, 12, Judah Irawan, 5, Turlican Jones, 8, Greta McDonald, 4, and Lucia Gasperini, 10, enjoy the school’s healthy canteen options. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

At Hobart’s Albuera St ­Primary School the children line up hungrily for package-free snacks, made by parent volunteers, which include carrot sticks with hummus, homemade raspberry muffins, fresh fruit salad and the most popular choice, cheesy garlic bread.

“I think there would be a riot if I took the cheesy garlic off the menu,” canteen manager Rachel Chilcott said.

The snack, which costs students 50c, is simply half a small brown bread roll topped with olive oil, garlic and cheese.

A bag of freshly made plain popcorn at 20c is also a hit.

Last week’s leftover muffins are frozen and made into bread and butter pudding, served warm in mugs and topped with homemade custard.

For 10c the kids can grab a piece of fruit and the only drinks for sale are plain milk and water.

At lunch the biggest seller is a “meatball sub” – homemade meatballs on wholemeal bread with homemade tomato sauce.

School principal Kerry McMinn said initially students wondered how they would manage without their liquorice strips when the school association decided to convert to a healthy canteen.

“But now everyone realises food can be good for you and taste good as well,” she said.

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