School canteens are an important part of the school setting. Food purchased and consumed at school can contribute up to 50% of students’ daily energy intake. Canteens play a critical role in addressing and promoting healthy dietary behaviours.
Rosi Johnston, Health Promotion Officer, Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District
Rosi is a Health Promotion Officer at the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District in Warrawong. She supports early childhood centres, primary and high schools, with a focus on implementing the NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy. With years of experience in program and policy development in school settings to promote healthy eating, Rosi has provided her insight on how to achieve a balanced diet and sustainable food system for a healthier society and planet.
1. What inspired you to become a Health Promotion Officer?
I have always had a keen interest in health, both personally and beyond. The idea of promoting, improving and/or influencing health outcomes at a population level really appealed to me. The expression ‘getting more bang for your buck’ is probably the best way to describe the role of a Health Promotion Officer. Health Promotion can be applied in a variety of settings, my position focuses on the Healthy Children’s Initiative which provides a comprehensive, coordinated approach to childhood obesity prevention across NSW.
2. What strategies/policies/programs are most effective at promoting a balanced diet to a community?
My role involves supporting schools and childhood services implement state programs that focus on physical activity, healthy eating, reducing screen time, drinking water etc. In my role supporting a whole-of-school or service approach is the best way to promote a balanced diet. For example, healthy eating is reflected in the culture of the learning environment, via learning activities in the classroom, in the playground, school events and through the school canteen. When we support and provide a holistic approach to healthy eating, it not only benefits the students, but the broader school community is also impacted.
When we support and provide a holistic approach to healthy eating, it not only benefits the students, but the broader school community is also impacted.
3. What is a balanced diet?
To me a balanced diet is eating from the five core food groups, lots of vegetables, fruit, some grain foods, and small amounts of meats and dairy products or their alternatives. Eating a variety of real foods gives our bodies all the essential vitamins and minerals we need for optimum health. Limiting the amount of processed and packaged foods is also preferable but if we do eat them occasionally we shouldn’t beat ourselves up about it.
4. How can we achieve a sustainable food system and a balanced diet?
Choosing fresh foods that are in season and produced locally is a great way to start. By eating more fresh foods, we consume less processed and packaged foods which is a win-win for us and the environment. To reduce waste, don’t buy excess food, use what you buy, and use all of the produce. I think about how my parents and grandparents ate; very simply! They used only what was available to them, most of their diet consisted of fruit and veg and small amounts of the other food groups. Our search for convenience has changed the way most of us eat, I think there is a need to simplify our diets and get back to basics. If you’re like me and can’t grow any of your own food, plant herbs in pots, it brightens your day as well as your cooking.
I think about how my parents and grandparents ate; very simply! They used only what was available to them, most of their diet consisted of fruit and veg and small amounts of the other food groups. Our search for convenience has changed the way most of us eat, I think there is a need to simplify our diets and get back to basics.
5. What role do school canteens play in children’s diets?
School canteens are an important part of the school setting. Food purchased and consumed at school can contribute up to 50% of students’ daily energy intake. Canteens play a critical role in addressing and promoting healthy dietary behaviours, so it makes sense that schools and their canteens provide foods that are consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, reflect the health messages being taught in the classroom and contribute to the over-all health education of the student. The NSW Healthy School Canteen Strategy was developed to support a culture of healthy food in schools by supporting school canteens to promote and increase student access to healthy food and drinks by making the healthy choice, the easy choice.