Promoting healthy food and drink options for schools

Increasing and promoting healthy food options requires appealing presentation, education, accessibility, and customer engagement. We have practical tips for food distributors and operators that support healthier food choices in school settings and beyond.

Creating healthier food environments in schools is about more than just what’s on the menu – it’s about how food is presented, promoted, and made accessible.

When healthy options are easy, appealing, and affordable, students are more likely to choose them.

From canteen and tuckshop operators to other school food providers, everyone has a part to play in shaping a school food culture that supports better heart health and lifelong healthy habits.

Below are some practical tips to help schools, food providers and suppliers make healthy choices the natural choice.

Whether it’s positioning nutritious options in high-traffic areas, giving dishes fun names, or making healthy products easy to order and identify, small changes can have a big impact on what young people eat every day.

Top tips for canteen and tuck shop operators

Make healthy choices visible and accessible

Position healthier food items at eye level and in high-traffic areas such as counters in waiting areas, beside cash registers.

Appeal to the eyes first

People eat with their eyes first. Present healthy foods in colourful, attractive ways. Create a menu with beautiful photographs and detailed descriptions of the healthier items you want to sell more of.

Offer a variety of portions and pricing

Provide a range of portion sizes at different price points to suit varying appetites and budgets. Price healthier options slightly lower than less healthy ones to encourage better choices.

Create value combos featuring healthy items

Offer value combos with healthier items, for example a salad and chicken wrap with a fruit and yoghurt, dumplings with water and a fruit salad.

Give dishes creative, fun names

Use playful and memorable names to draw attention to healthier items. These could be linked with movies, countries, bands or sports. Here are some examples:

• wicked chicken wrap
• the veggie avengers (mixed veggie stir-fry or curry),
• sssneaky spag bol (spaghetti with hidden vegetable sauce)
• burgerlicious brain boost (lean meat and veggie burger).

Host tasting sessions

Introduce new healthy foods through tasting sessions. This creates curiosity and helps students overcome any fear of new flavours.

Promote healthy items widely

Use school newsletters, notice boards, competitions, or themed days to spotlight new healthy menu options and create excitement.

Educate and inspire

Help students understand the benefits of making Healthy choices. The Heart Foundation’s Choose the best food for your body posters show common school tuckshop food and visually explain why one is healthier choice compared to the other one.

Vending machine options

Use this checklist to ensure water, whole foods, and nutrient-rich snacks are provided instead of high-sugar, high-fat, or high-salt options.

Creating and modifying recipes

Healthy school recipes