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"I would like to nominate our canteen at the Yarrawonga
Primary School for the most improved Primary School [Canteen]
of the Year.
Along with all schools we relied on the selling of lollies
and other snack items to help boost sales and maintain the
canteen. We have always had a least six varieties of lollies
for the children to indulge with no limits on what they could
buy.
At the start of Term 1 2006 it was decided to limit the variety
and the amount the children could purchase, thus the 3 varieties
highest in sugar were deleted. The children then had a choice
of 3 bags of either gummi bears (10 per bag) or fruit faces
(6 per bag). We also sold Raspberry Twists and these also
had a limit of 3.
Our lunch menu consisted of the usual cup noodles, party
pies, sausage rolls, pies, pizza, nuggets with the addition
in Term 2 and 3 of homemade Lasagne, spaghetti bolognese and
pasta bake, vegetable and pumpkin soup which soon became favourites
with the children. These items were made in the canteen and
were packaged and frozen in advance. A variety of sandwiches
and rolls make up the rest of the menu all year round.
For the start of Term 4, knowing that all lollies will be
abolished from canteens in the year to come we made the decision
to limit our lolly choice back to Fruit Faces, one bag of
6 and Fruit Twists, limit of 3. For our lunch menu we deleted
pies, cup noodles and chicken nuggets off our menu. By the
end of Term 4 we deleted the Fruit Faces and were only selling
Fruit Twists, three at a time, at recess time until all current
stock was sold out.
2007 and the new Healthy Guidelines for School Canteens kick
off. Like all canteens I think panic mode set in as we asked
ourselves How will we survive? And what will we sell? Term
1 saw us still selling the Fruit Twists. These were still
limited to recess only 4 days per week at a limit of 3. In
Term 2 we attended the 'Go for your Life' workshop presented
by Nutrition Australia and found that with the ideas and information
we received, there are a lot of healthier options than selling
lollies and things were looking brighter for school canteens.
The children were disappointed that the twists were deleted
and they still asked for them occasionally.
We also developed a new menu for Term 2 and 3 and a separate
one for Term 4. We have a brighter and more child friendly
menu to tempt even the fussiest of eaters. Our healthy canteen
is well accepted [by] children, staff and parents alike.
The canteen is improving each year. Five years ago we started
a free breakfast programme as it was noticed a lot of children
were coming to school without eating breakfast. Rather than
single out anyone in particular, free breakfast was offered
to all students on one day of each week. It was then increased
to two each week and is now currently running three days of
each week."
- Glenda Smith, Canteen Manager
See also: Yarrawonga PS
- 2007 VSCA Innovation Award: Best Primary Canteen Idea of
the Year
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