Healthy School Canteen Checklist Use this checklist to increase the availability of healthy food and drinks, making them the easy choice for students.

Simple changes can make a big difference to your school canteen or tuckshop menu. This checklist will help you offer more nutritious food and drinks to students and develop strategies to increase the sale of healthy menu options. It can be used to assess your current menu, identify opportunities for improvement and highlight where Fuelled4life resources, recipes and one-on-one support can help.

The checklist will provide a starting point to initiate change by encouraging more whole and less-processed foods that are lower in saturated fat, sugar and salt like vegetables, fruit and whole grains. One-on-one support from a Heart Foundation nutrition advisor can be provided to help meet the needs of your canteen.

Please contact us for more information: fuelled4life@heartfoundation.org.nz

What are Everday and Sometimes foods?

Everyday foodsEveryday foods and drinks are the healthiest choices for your students. They are whole or less-processed, provide a rich source of nutrients and are lower in saturated fat, sugar and salt than Sometimes foods. Use mostly Everyday foods and drinks on your menu, encourage and promote these options.

Everyday drinks are plain water and milk only.

Sometimes foodsSometimes foods have usually gone through some processing and tend to be higher in saturated fat, sugar or salt than Everyday foods. These options should be limited on your menu.

Circle Comment or date to be completed by

Cold items

Whole grain/multi grain/wholemeal bread are mostly offered. Yes / No / NA

Bread-based items (eg. sandwiches, rolls and wraps) have salad or vegetable fillings.

Yes / No / NA

Seasonal fruit is offered (eg. whole fruit and/or fruit salad). Yes / No / NA

Hot meals

Deep fried foods (eg. hot chips or wedges) are not for sale. Yes / No / NA

Hot meals (eg. pasta, noodles, rice, lasagne and pizza) contain vegetables. Yes / No / NA

Pastry items (eg. pies, sausage rolls, spring rolls, samosas, croissants and danishes) are not regularly offered and do not dominate the menu. Limit the frequency and variety of pastry items:

• Pies: no more than 180g/pie

• Sausage rolls: no more than 100g

Contact us for more guidance on portion size for different pastry items.

Yes / No / NA

Sweet baked items and snacks

If sweet baked items (eg. muffins, cakes or slices) are offered, portion sizes are limited (ie. maximum of 80g per serve).

Yes / No / NA

More than half (>50%) of sweet baked items are fruit-based. Yes / No / NA

Most snack items (eg. fruit, baked products, yoghurt or smoothies) meet Fuelled4life Everyday or Sometimes criteria (using the online Healthy Food Cruncher) or have a Health Star Rating of 3.5 stars or more.

Yes / No / NA

Drinks

Tap water is freely available. Yes / No / NA

Low- or reduced-fat milk is the default option. Yes / No / NA

If you’re providing bottled/packaged drinks, bottled water and plain milk are available.

Yes / No / NA

Sugary drinks (including soft drinks, energy drinks, fruit drinks, sports drinks and iced tea) are not for sale.

Yes / No / NA

Promotion of healthy foods

Only healthy Everyday options are placed at the point of sale or eye level on counters, shelves and fridges.

Yes / No / NA

Healthy Everyday options are clearly priced and signposted. Yes / No / NA

Only healthy Everyday options are promoted in advertising, meal deals and daily/weekly specials.

Yes / No / NA

Only healthy Everyday options are promoted on commercial branding signage and displays (eg. signs, fridges and freezers).

Yes / No / NA

Healthy Everyday options are priced competitively against less healthy items. Yes / No / NA

Taste testing of healthy Everyday options has been offered. Yes / No / NA

Ingredients and foods used in cooking and preparation

Where possible, low-sodium ingredients are used (eg. those labelled ‘low salt’, ‘no added salt’ or ‘salt-reduced’).

Yes / No / NA

More than half (>50%) of meat dishes are made with lean meat, chicken or seafood (eg. tuna, lean roast beef or chicken) instead of processed or deli meat (eg. sausages, salami, bacon, ham or paté).

Yes / No / NA

Low- or reduced-fat dairy products are used (eg. milk, cheese, yoghurt, sour cream or cream cheese).

Yes / No / NA

Added sugar is used sparingly in all freshly prepared items including sugar, syrup, molasses, honey, fruit juice concentrates. Where possible, fruit is used to sweeten food.

Yes / No / NA

Healthy School Canteen Checklist

fuelled4life.org.nz