A healthy start to school

Produced by NAQ Nutrition Food Smart Schools Program with funding received from theSmart Choices Initiative

A healthy start to school

Promoting healthy foods and drinks is important to our school community

(Insert your school logo here)

What is Smart Choices?

• Queensland Government initiative aimed at improving the nutritional value of foods and drinks supplied to students in schools

• Smart Choices applies to: • tuckshops, canteens and vending machines• fundraising events – food drives, sausage sizzles• school dances, fetes, movie nights• sports days – swimming and athletic carnivals, on site sports

clubs (e.g. swim clubs)• school excursions if the school provides the foods and drinks• classroom rewards

Smart Choices• Classifies foods and drinks into three categories

according to nutritional value

GREEN FOODS Have plenty

AMBER FOODS Select carefully

RED FOODSOccasionally

(no more than two times per term)

Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

• Smart Choices is based on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

Smart foods for kids

A range of ways you can support Smart Choices and promote health and wellbeing in your children:

• talk to children about the importance of healthy foods and drinks

• model healthy eating at home• provide children with a good breakfast and a healthy

lunchbox• volunteer at the tuckshop/canteen and other school

events where possible• be a part of our school parent organisation.

Importance of breakfast

Breakfast is important for children because:• it improves their mood, classroom focus, memory

and learning• children’s appetites are often best in the first half

of the day• protein foods at breakfast are a good idea, for

example, dairy, eggs, baked beans• it is very difficult to meet daily nutrient needs if

breakfast is missed.

Healthy breakfast examples

• Wholegrain cereals (e.g. porridge, muesli, wheat cereal) topped with reduced fat milk or yoghurt and a piece of fruit

• Wholegrain toast with low fat healthy spreads, or served with baked beans/banana/egg/ cheese and tomato and a piece of fruit

• Breakfast on the run – fruit such as banana, reduced fat milk and yoghurt smoothie

Importance of fluids

• Inadequate fluid throughout the day can lead to:

• fatigue, listlessness, headache and low mood

• Water is best – pack a refillable water bottle every day

• Milk is next best – will need to be kept cold• Juice should be 100% and small serve size• No soft drinks, cordials, sports drinks or

flavoured waters• No energy drinks

Importance of healthy lunchboxes

• About half a child’s daily nutrition needs will be met while at school

• Important that lunchbox food is nutritious

• Provides energy, and the vitamins and minerals needed to help with growth, play, learning, focus and mood

Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans-Sliced cooked lean meats – lamb, ham, chicken, roast beef, turkey-Boiled eggs-Tuna/salmon-Legumes including baked beans, chickpeas, lentils, butter beans, kidney beans

Lunchbox choicesAim for at least one food from each of the

five core food groups in the lunchbox

Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced fat-Reduced fat milk-Soy milk (or other cow’s milk alternative) with added calcium-Reduced fat cheese-Reduced fat yoghurt

Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high fibre varieties-Wholegrain bread and bread rolls-Wholegrain cereals-Wholegrain pita/pocket bread-Lavash or Turkish bread-Fruit bread-Rice cakes-Pikelets, muffins and scones

Vegetables and legumes/beans-Salads – tomatoes, carrots, cucumber, celery, lettuce, sprouts, corn on the cob-Vegetables – stir-fried, corn on the cob, carrot sticks, capsicum slices, snow peas-Reduced fat potato salad or coleslaw-Small can of baked beans

Fruit- Fresh whole fruit- Fruit salad- Canned fruit in natural juice- Dried fruit (30g serve, or 4

dried apricot halves or 1 ½ tablespoons sultanas

More healthy lunchbox ideas• Wraps, rolls and

sandwiches • Pita bread/English muffin

pizzas• Noodle, rice or pasta dishes• Sushi, rice paper rolls• Frittata or quiche• Cheese and wholegrain

crackers

• Dip and vege sticks• Corn on the cob• Air-popped popcorn• Bottle of water• Milk poppers• Yoghurt, custard• Fresh and frozen fruit

Which is more expensive?

Apple$4.00/kg

Cheese and crackers$9.04kg

Pre-packaged cheese and

crackers$32.10kg

Popcorn$4.10/kg

Crisps$30.00/kg

Fruit bread

$7.70/kg

Muesli bar

$24.10kg

* Prices are approximate and may vary

Fruit strap$43.50/kg

Managing food allergies at school• Education Queensland has a policy for

managing allergies in schools – Anaphylaxis Guidelines for Queensland State Schools

• Our school policy/procedure in relation to managing allergies (including food allergies) is:

(insert school policy/procedure)

Department of Education, Training and Employment (DETE)Smart Choiceswww.education.qld.gov.au/schools/healthy

For more information

NAQ NutritionFood Smart Schools ProgramPh: (07) 3257 4393info@foodsmartschools.orgwww.foodsmartschools.org

Further information