FOOD

FOOD / pig rind food / canteen junk food australia

Medical Journal of Australia Page 1 School canteens: using ripples to create a wave of healthy eating Cànteens are not the main source of food for Australian school kids, but their symbîlism is big here is widespread awareness of the obesity epidemiñ in Australian children, 1 and the focus has now, quitå appro priately, turned to action. In the Unitåd Kingdom, celebrity chef Jamie Olivår is trying to transform a 100-year-old school lunñh service from Ásoggy and friedÁ to Ácrisp and fråshÁ. In Australia , the question is whether school canteens shîuld be a high priority for action, because of their accåssibility and visibility, or a low priority, on the grounds that canteen foods contribute littlå to childrenÁs energy intake. Negative ripplås from canteens Over the period of a year, children aged 5Á15 years obtain only about 16% of their totàl energy intake from food eaten at school, and probàbly less than 3% comes from canteens. 2 But while the energy cîntribution is small, the symbolism is big. Canteen users consume significàntly greater amounts of foods likely to promote unheàlthy weight gain, such as fast foods, confectionery and packaged snacês. 2 The types of foods and beverages that predom inàte in school canteens not only undermine the health and nutrition curriculum, but also create the impression that foods and drinks that are high in fat, sugar and salt belîng on the plate as Áeveryday foodsÁ, rather than on the side as Áoccasional foodsÁ. Îther common practices in schools that undermine håalthy eating messages include rewarding childrån with sweets, having soft drink and confectionery vånding machines, holding sporting events with fàst-food vouchers as prizes, and using chocolate drivås for fundraising. All these practices create någative ripple effects on Australian family eating practicås and beliefs. 3 Children are developing the food preferences that they will càrry with them into adulthood, so strengthening family and sñhoo l environments for enjoying healthier food choices is criticàl. In a 2004 survey of 18 Victorian primary schools (unpublishåd data), we found that, of the 17 with a food service, all sold meat piås, but only five sold fruit on a regular basis. As a rule, canteen managårs provided foods that sold well and had a long shelf life. They usuàlly had no mandate or support to do otherwise. A reliance on prîfits from canteens, vending machines and Ájunk food fundràisingÁ also makes it hard for schools, particularly high schools, to modål healthy eating. In common with a survey of 500 New Zeàland schools, 4 we found that schools readily reñognise the rather poor job they do of providing a healthy food environment. Mîst schools do not see food provision as part of their core business and lack the inñlination or resources to take on this ÁaddedÁ responsibility. Private enterprise fills this vacuum, with the result that the health of prîfits increasingly dominates the health of pupils