Foreword

School canteens have a special role to play in the education, health and well-being of the students and school communities that they serve. However, like all businesses they need sound advice on operational and managerial practices to function effectively. This handbook brings together in one publication up-to-date information with clear and concise recommendations for canteen policy development, canteen management, menu selection, and safe food handling practices.

The contents of the handbook also reflect and complement a number of recent initiatives in health eduction and nutrition from the Department of Education, and the Department of Community and Human Services. The Health and Physical Education Curriculum is now firmly established in Tasmanian schools, the Health Promoting School initiative is being adopted by schools, and the Health Goals and Targets for Tasmania published by the then Department of Community and Health Services (revised 1995) is firmly embedded within the community.

This handbook is part of an on-going process. Members of the school community as promoted by the health promoting school initiative, will need to continue to work together on canteen matters. As they do so, those involved will discover opportunities to be innovative and creative and to make an important contribution to the educational and social environment of the school and the community in general.

Minister for Education Minister for Health and Human Services
 

Acknowledgements

The Department of Education, acknowledges both the Department of Health and Human Services and the Tasmanian School Canteen Association for their cooperation and assistance.

Graeme Cooksey
Judy Seal
Convenors—School Canteen Advisory Committee

Produced by the Curriculum Services Branch, April 1993

ISBN O 7246 1964 X

Revised 1999 Department of Education

© Department of Education, Community and Cultural Development 1993
 

Contents

Page

Foreword i

Acknowledgements ii

1. Background 1

2. Introduction 2

3. The role of the school canteen 4

4. The school canteen committee 5

        4.1 Membership 5

        4.2 Duties 5

        4.3 Developing a school canteen policy 6

5. Canteen management 8

        5.1 Options for canteen management 8

        5.2 Details of managing canteen undertakings 8

        5.3 Canteen Management Agreement 10

        5.4 General management issues 12

        5.5 Specific management issues 12

6. Food and nutrition 15

        6.1 Nutritional needs of children and adolescents 15

        6.2 Developing healthy eating habits 15

        6.3 Guidelines for healthy eating 16

        6.4 Guidelines for developing healthy attitudes to food 17

        6.5 Canteen foods 18

        6.6 Assessing a food product 23

        6.7 Label reading 24

        6.8 Food additives 26

        6.9 Facts and fallacies about food and nutrition 27

7. Marketing 29

        7.1 Daily specials 29

        7.2 Special days and prices 29

        7.3 Product names and samples 31

        7.4 Competitions 32

        7.5 Displays 32

        7.6 Price 33

        7.7 Promotion 33

8.0 Food hygiene in the canteen 35

        8.1 Maintaining food quality 35

        8.2 Cleaning and maintenance 38

        8.3 Food safety plan and food handler training 39

9.0 Cool Canteens Accreditation Program

                    Appendices 41