Canteen Case Studies

Schools across Australia provide a food service to their school community. To see some examples about canteen operations, healthy menus and much more, follow the links below for case studies produced or promoted by FOCIS members.

WA School Canteen Association Inc

WASCA is committed to helping schools and community create healthy food environments. Each case study includes the school profile details, their story, school community links and a take home message from the author. Authors include canteen managers, parent body representatives and teachers. Harvest – Bright ideas from the field.

Healthy Eating Advisory Service

The Healthy Eating Advisory Service aims to help organisations provide and promote healthier foods and drinks to improve the health of all Victorians. The HEAS work contributes to the healthy eating focus area of the Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan 2019 – 2023. Click on this link to find out how schools have created healthy change to the food and drinks in their canteens.

Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation

The purpose of the Kitchen Garden Foundation is to introduce pleasurable food to children and young people during their learning years. See how the canteen at Vasse Primary School in WA uses seasonal produce from the school’s kitchen garden in their morning tea and lunch menu and how changing the menu in the canteen at Kalianna Special School in Bendigo North has boosted student wellbeing.

News and Events

Whole Grain Week

As part of Whole Grain Week 2023, the Grains and Legumes Nutrition Council has developed an on-line recipe book full of delicious ways to increase the whole grains in your diet. The recipes can be download here.
Advocacy and Communications Officer

FOCIS is currently looking for dynamic Advocacy and Communications Officer to join our team. If you would like to be part of an organisation advocating for the role of school food services in creating a whole school approach to healthy food environments, this could be the position for you. This role is for 7.5-10 hours per week and you will work from home, so can be located anywhere in Australia. For more information see our advert on SEEK or contact us on admin@focis.com.au.
Creating a whole school approach to healthy eating

The whole school approach to healthy eating is an evidence based approach that works to develop a healthy food culture in schools that positively impacts the eating habits of students. For more information see this recent article written by FOCIS and published in Education Australia.
Queensland's Best Tuckshop Recipes

Congratulations to Southport State School Tuckshop Convener, Angelique Scarpignato, for winning the 2023 Queensland Tuckshops Recipe of the Year competition with her recipe for Butter Chicken.
More information about the competition and this healthy recipe can be found in a recent article by the Bursar.
Food-EPI Australia reports for all jurisdictions

Deakin University have completed their reports for the Food-EPI Australia 2022 initiative. These are now available online.
The Federal Government report was released first as part of the International Congress on Obesity in October 2022, and the jurisdictional reports progressively released, in conjunction with NGOs in each jurisdiction.
Education Australia - Canteen Food and Beverage

The March edition of Education Australia contains some interesting articles on the importance of children eating a healthy diet at school. This article on School Food Services - providing a nutritious food services to support student learning, is written by the FOCIS Executive. The article discusses the importance of a whole school approach to healthy eating and the role school canteens play in supporting student health and wellbeing and the impact a healthy diet can have on brain development and academic achievement.
There is also an article from Nutrition Australia, ACT's senior dietitian, Leanne Elliston, on how staying well-nourished and hydrated at school impacts students energy and concentration levels.
School lunch boxes should be practical and affordable

The pressure to make the perfect school lunch box is on the rise but with parents busier than ever it is important to remember that healthy lunches do not have to be unwrapped or organic. This article from the ABC shows how Queensland tuckshops are providing healthy affordable lunches that children love to eat.
Fact Sheets and Position Statements

FOCIS has developed a suite of fact sheets and position statements that cover topics such as 'Make money not waste' and 'Sweeteners', check them out today.