Healthy food environments in health settings
A healthy food environment in a health setting means that anyone working or visiting can access healthy food and drink choices, and that these options are the easiest options. By creating healthy food environments, health settings demonstrate a commitment to leading the way in providing and promoting healthy eating.
Support for staff and volunteers responsible for food choices in SA Health settings
The SA Health Healthy Food and Drink Policy states all SA Health sites must provide food and drink in line with the Food and Drink Standards. If you are a staff member or volunteer responsible for implementing the policy, Preventive Health SA and the Healthy Food Environments Hub can provide you with support. Start with small, but impactful changes and follow these steps to get started:
- Use FoodChecker to assess a menu or vending machine against the policy.
- Reduce the amount of red foods and drinks that are sold; try providing smaller serving sizes of drinks and snacks or replacing red products with green or amber options
- Increase green options; try introducing some new green drinks or swap some ingredients in your main meals to green them up.
- Limit amber options; try replacing amber snacks and meals for green alternatives link to food swaps.
- Reassess your new menu or updated vending machine with FoodChecker
- Use FoodChecker any time you plan a new menu or update your vending machine to assess them against the policy
More information and support
An online Community of Practice is available to connect staff and volunteers responsible for implementing the policy and to provide you with support. Contact Preventive Health SA via email preventivehealthsa.healthyfood@sa.gov.au to join.
The Healthy Food Environments Hub has pages to support health settings, including:
Resources for promoting and implementing the policy can be found on the SA Health website
For further information, contact: preventivehealthsa.healthyfood@sa.gov.au
