Overview
Melbourne-based Beaumaris Primary School has transformed its canteen, with sustainability at the forefront.
Sustainability is embedded in the culture at Beaumaris Primary School. In fact, four years ago the school was awarded the ‘Resource Smart 5-star Sustainable School’ award by Sustainability Victoria.
While the canteen menu meets the Department of Education and Training’s School Canteen Another School Food Services Policy, reducing waste has guided most of the school’s decisions.
Melbourne-based Beaumaris Primary School has transformed its canteen, with sustainability at the forefront.
Sustainability is embedded in the culture at Beaumaris Primary School. In fact, four years ago the school was awarded the ‘Resource Smart 5-star Sustainable School’ award by Sustainability Victoria.
While the canteen menu meets the Department of Education and Training’s School Canteen Another School Food Services Policy, reducing waste has guided most of the school’s decisions.
Sustainable food is healthier food
The canteen committee knows that foods made on site are healthier and better for the environment, as they use less packaging and create less waste.
First, they focused on removing foods and drinks which did not have recyclable packaging. Second, they replaced other packaged products with healthier alternatives which staff and volunteers made on site, such as frozen fruit cups (instead of frozen yoghurt), healthy muffins, and hearty soups.
They also worked with a local bakery to develop healthier items, like a Select Carefully (Amber) sausage roll, instead of an Occasionally (Red) commercially-made packaged product which was high in added fat and salt.
They used Healthy Eating Advisory Service recipes for inspiration, and followed the Healthy Eating Advisory Services’ advice in their free FoodChecker menu assessment to create their own healthier recipes.
Engaging the whole school
Teachers: Sustainability is embedded in the curriculum and students are regularly learning about the connection between what happens in the canteen, the school grounds, their local community and the environment.
Families: Parents and children are encouraged to prepare ‘nude food’ lunchboxes, to mirror the health and sustainability practices in the canteen.
Students: All students are encouraged to make and suggest changes to improve sustainability, and they even have student ‘Healthy Food Captains’ and ‘Sustainability Captains’ who help all students use the right recycling bins.
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The Healthy Eating Advisory Service acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past and present.
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service is delivered by experienced nutritionists and dietitians at Nutrition Australia Vic Division, with support from the Victorian Government.
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