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Thank you to those who joined us for our canteen catch-up last term at Nareena Hills Public School. It was nice to see familiar faces and meet new canteen staff.

The catchups are a great way to network and stay up to date with all things canteens!

Thank you, Karina for hosting us at North Nowra Public School.   

Where:  North Nowra Public School
75 Judith Dr, North Nowra
Date: Thursday 29 August 2024
Time: 2:30-4pm

If you would like to host a catch-up at your school, please let me know. I am planning the Term 4 meeting to take place in the Illawarra.

The Healthy Food Finder was recently updated and is now more user friendly.

The online product search tool is your best friend if you're working in the canteen.  You can use it to search for packaged foods and drinks to sell in NSW school canteens.  

Use Healthy Food Finder to:

✔️ Find healthier food and drink products to sell in a school canteen 
✔️ Check if a product meets the Food and Drink Criteria.
✔️ Check the classification and Health Star Rating (HSR) of a product.
✔️ Add new products to the tool.

Simply create a profile to get started. 

The Strategy supports student health and wellbeing.

Whether the canteen is run by volunteers, paid staff or is leased, the canteen is part of the education system. 

A healthy school canteen models what students are taught in the classroom about healthy eating and supports a whole-school community approach to better health. 

Schools are obligated to achieve and maintain their Healthy School Canteen accreditation. Support can be obtained directly by the Healthy Food Information Service or contact me for menu planning advice and/or to help with the menu check application form, which is then submitted to the Healthy Food Information Service.  

Support resources are available on the Department of Education website.

The December 8 deadline is fast approaching! If your canteen doesn't currently have at least one accredited Food Safety Supervisor (FSS), now is a good time to get started.

 A school canteen is defined as a FOOD RETAIL BUSINESS, therefore completing the one Retail Unit (SIRRFSA001) is sufficient. Training packages are delivered online and consist of quizzes and an observation component.

The training does not have to be completed in one sitting, register now and complete the training at your own pace. Go to the NSW Food Authority website for more information and to check the list of approved Registered Training Operators. Note: costs vary between providers.   

Everyone working in the canteen should complete the FREE Food Handler Basics Training. Share the link to the training ASAP so everyone who works in the canteen knows how to handle food safely. 

A FSS is the person who is in the canteen most of the time and is contactable by canteen workers if needed when the FSS is not in the canteen.

The Cancer Council has recently launched their new look website, Healthy Made Tasty. 

The website is a one-stop shop for healthy meal and snack inspiration and recipes. It also has a Healthy Lunch Box section which has some great ideas that could be used in the canteen. Go to the sandwich filling ideas for some super sanga ideas.     

TIP: offer a new feature sandwich to generate interest and increase sales.

If you're looking for inspiration, try the No Money No Time website.

There are lots of low-cost recipes, including plenty of vegetable-inspired meals and snacks that would work well in the canteen.

If you have ideas on what you'd like to see in the newsletter, please email Rosi.Johnston@health.nsw.gov.au