"Let's give children every opportunity to eat well." (~ Jacqi Deighan ~ March 2004)
Jacqi Deighan has initiated and is heavily involved in a pilot program in a Victorian State School Canteen. The canteen at Southmoor Primary School in suburban Melbourne has taken the unprecedented step of eliminating all the pre-packaged fast food items, the deep fried food, the confectionary and soft drinks and the high fat, sugary snacks. The carefully planned menu consists of simple, fresh, home cooked meals and lots of delicious and healthy snacks to keep the children interested.
In Australia, the declining health of our children and the ever increasing amount of nutrient poor foods available to them is a huge concern and many schools are now becoming pro-active in this important and critical area.
'The school council has a special role to play in the education, health and wellbeing of the school's students.
It is recommended that the school council develop a policy for its canteen and other school food services that supports this role. The health benefits of a nutritious diet should not be underestimated. Consuming nutritious food and adopting a healthy life style assist students to grow and develop to their optimum potential leading to improved educational outcomes.
A healthy diet plays a preventative role in relation to nutrition-related conditions and diseases such as overweight, obesity and dental disease, and, in later life, osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, diabetes mellitus (type 2) and a range of cancers.
It is imperative that parents, teachers and students work together to support a whole-school approach to building a school culture in which students actively choose nutritious food and a healthy lifestyle.
The eating habits of students are greatly influenced by the food available in the school environment. Food eaten at school contributes substantially to the students' daily nutrient intake and also has a considerable influence in the development of their eating habits, growth patterns and energy levels.
A positive attitude towards a school canteen that supports healthy eating should be promoted and endorsed. This would be facilitated through a whole-school approach to nutrition-providing information on food, nutrition and healthy eating habits that take into account values, attitudes and beliefs about food and eating.'
At Southmoor Primary - as part of the Schools For a Sustainable Future program - the next clear and logical step in supporting and implementing programs to preserve and protect the environment was to offer a healthy food program.
Southmoor Primary School is taking a huge leap forward in offering a canteen menu to its students that not only takes note of the State Government guidelines but surpasses them. By discarding the fast food items and the high fat, sugary snacks and replacing them with simple, fresh, home cooked meals, the children are being given the opportunity to reap huge rewards in their growth and development. To understand and appreciate good food now and for the rest of their lives, children need to be exposed to real food as much as possible.
Children naturally love good food but do not often
choose healthy items if snack and fast foods are offered on the same menu. They need to be actively encouraged to make the right food choices just as they are in all other areas of life.
There is enormous media attention at the moment on the question of childhood obesity and much is being asked about the responsibilities of schools to provide an environment that fosters a healthy lifestyle. Southmoor Primary School is a shining example to other schools and sets a precedent in offering an impressive standard of nutritious and delicious meals for students and staff. Along with the Schools For a Sustainable Futures program, the school has become a leader in the drive for excellence in health and the environment.
NKS ~ schools ~ SCHOOL CANTEEN
At Southmoor Primary - as part of the 
choose healthy items if snack and fast foods are offered on the same menu.