Classification System Helps Schools With Nutrition
MEDIA RELEASE
29 March 2007
Classification
System Helps Schools Make Better Nutritional
Choices
The Ministry of Health’s mission to promote
healthy eating in schools and early childhood education
(ECE) services was boosted today with the release of the
Food and Beverage Classification System Framework.
Aimed at helping New Zealand children make healthier at-school choices everyday, the Food and Beverage Classification System Framework was sent to all schools and ECEs, along with the Ministry of Education’s (MoE) Food and Nutrition for Healthy, Confident Kids guidelines which detail the approach that schools and ECEs should take to improve food and nutrition.
The Ministry of Health’s Deputy Director General, Dr Don Matheson, said the Framework worked in tandem with the MoE’s guidelines to set out healthy food and beverage options for children aged three months to 18 years.
“The research is clear that young people’s food choices can affect their health, as well as their learning and behaviour at school,” said Dr Matheson.
“The Ministry of Health supports the MoE in its mission to encourage well-nourished young people who are ready to learn by helping schools and ECEs choose food and beverages that are low in fat, sugar and salt.
“The Food and Beverage Classification System will also give teachers, canteen managers and those involved in helping children eat more healthily a say in how it’s done,” he said.
The Framework sets out the intent of the full Food and Beverage Classification System which is still being finalised. It will be launched in June 2007.
The Food and
Beverage Classification System assists educational
institutions to implement the MoE’s guidelines by
identifying foods and beverages that are:
- For
consumption every day, such as sandwiches, rolls, yoghurt,
vegetables and fruit, as well as water and low-fat milk
-
For consumption sometimes, such as pizza, muffins and
macaroni cheese, and
- For consumption occasionally (eg
once a term), such as pies, sausage rolls, chocolate bars
and deep-fried foods, such as fries.
Dr Matheson said support and training packages to schools and ECEs were being offered to help implement the twin guidelines.
“This is not about labelling or a vehicle to inspect children’s lunchboxes. These are useful tools to help schools and ECE services encourage New Zealand children to make healthier choices every day.”
Both the Food and Beverage Classification System and the Food and Nutrition for Healthy, Confident Kids guidelines are part of the government’s ‘Mission On’ package announced last year to encourage young New Zealanders to improve nutrition and increase physical activity.
ENDS
QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS
What is the Food and Beverage Classification
System?
The Food and Beverage Classification system is a
practical tool for schools and early childhood education
(ECE) services, which identifies healthy food and beverage
options for children aged three months to 18 years.
It sets out healthy options for people involved in selecting food and beverages for catered meals, tuck shops/canteens, vending machines, sponsorship deals, fund-raiser events and rewards.
What are the Ministry of Education’s Food and
Nutrition for Healthy, Confident Kids guidelines?
Another
practical tool which focuses on encouraging schools and ECEs
to adopt health promotion approaches to establishing or
improving their food environments. An environment which
supports healthy food and beverage choices encourages
healthy lifestyles.
The guidelines will also help teachers to plan programmes that encourage students to explore the significance of food in their lives.
How
will the Food and Beverage Classification System and the
MoE’s guidelines fit together?
The Ministry of
Health’s Food and Beverage Classification System works in
tandem with the MoE’s Food and Nutrition for Healthy,
Confident Kids guidelines – ie the Food and Beverage
Classification System helps schools and ECEs to implement
the MoE’s guidelines by identifying foods and beverages
that are for everyday consumption, for consumption sometimes
and for occasional consumption.
Why do schools and
early childhood education services need the Food and
Beverage Classification System, and the MoE’s guidelines?
The government is keen to encourage schools and ECEs to
provide an environment where students learn to make
consistently healthy food choices. Education settings
provide numerous and diverse opportunities for children and
young people to make decisions about food, so it is
important that these environments are structured to promote
healthy eating.
Research is clear that young people’s food choices can affect their health, as well as their learning and behaviour at school. Therefore, policies about what is sold or served in schools and ECEs can help ensure that healthy choices are available.
Many schools and ECEs are already aware of the important links between food, health and learning and are taking steps to improve the food and nutrition environment.
Why are you releasing the
Food and Beverage Classification System in two stages – ie
the Framework in late March and then the full System in
June?
To enable schools to fully comprehend the many
aspects of the System, and to plan for the System’s full
implementation.
Will the Food and Beverage Classification
System feature brand names? If not, why not?
The System
may well feature brand names in future.
How will the
Food and Beverage Classification System and the MoE’s
guidelines impact on producers – particularly small
providers like local bakeries, etc – who supply products
to school tuck shops and canteens?
There will be
opportunities for some producers who are responsible for
making food and beverages in the ‘everyday’ category,
while those producers whose food and beverages fall into the
‘occasional’ category may wish to reduce the fat, sugar
and salt components of their products.
How will the
Ministries of Education and Health ensure that the
guidelines and Classification System are implemented in
schools and ECEs?
Both Ministries will work closely with
schools and ECEs on implementing these tools.
What
kind of training and support is being offered to schools and
ECEs to help implement these changes?
The Ministries of
Health and Education are providing training programmes to
help support schools and ECEs implement these tools.
What is the Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA)
Strategy?
Healthy Eating Healthy Action (HEHA) is the
government’s strategic approach to improving nutrition,
increasing physical activity, reducing obesity and achieving
a healthy weight for all New Zealanders.
HEHA is the umbrella strategy that aims to engage and initiate a range of cross-government programmes within schools, ECEs, workplaces and communities around New Zealand.
The aim of the HEHA strategy is an environment and society where individuals, families, whanau and communities are supported to eat well, live physically active lives, and attain and maintain a healthy body weight.
What are some
examples of HEHA initiatives?
More than 45 actions are
already under way, including the Fruit in Schools programme,
the Nutrition Fund, the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
and Mission On. For further information about these
programmes, refer to the Ministry of Health’s website –
www.moh.govt.nz/healthyeatinghealthyaction
What is
Mission On?
Mission On is a broad-based package of 10
initiatives aimed at giving young New Zealanders and their
families the tools to improve their nutrition and increase
physical activity. The initiatives will be delivered through
SPARC and the Ministries of Education and Health, and builds
on existing cross-government programmes within schools, ECEs
and communities around New Zealand.