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Interventions and public health nutrition

Evaluation of implementation of a healthy food and drink supply strategy throughout the whole school environment in Queensland state schools, Australia

European Journal of Clinical Nutrition volume 66, pages 1124–1129 (2012)Cite this article

Subjects

Abstract

Background/objectives:

This paper reports on the evaluation of the Smart Choices healthy food and drink supply strategy for Queensland schools (Smart Choices) implementation across the whole school environment in state government primary and secondary schools in Queensland, Australia.

Subjects/methods:

Three concurrent surveys using different methods for each group of stakeholders that targeted all 1275 school Principals, all 1258 Parent and Citizens’ Associations (P&Cs) and a random sample of 526 tuckshop convenors throughout Queensland. Nine hundred and seventy-three Principals, 598 P&Cs and 513 tuckshop convenors participated with response rates of 78%, 48% and 98%, respectively.

Results:

Nearly all Principals (97%), P&Cs (99%) and tuckshop convenors (97%) reported that their school tuckshop had implemented Smart Choices. The majority of Principals and P&Cs reported implementation, respectively, in: school breakfast programs (98 and 92%); vending machine stock (94 and 83%); vending machine advertising (85 and 84%); school events (87 and 88%); school sporting events (81 and 80%); sponsorship and advertising (93 and 84%); fundraising events (80 and 84%); and sporting clubs (73 and 75%). Implementation in curriculum activities, classroom rewards and class parties was reported, respectively, by 97%, 86% and 75% of Principals. Respondents also reported very high levels of understanding of Smart Choices and engagement of the school community.

Conclusions:

The results demonstrated that food supply interventions to promote nutrition across all domains of the school environment can be implemented successfully.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Healthy Living Branch, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    M Dick & J Miller

  2. School of Public Health and Social Work and School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Kelvin Grove, Queensland, Australia

    A Lee

  3. Population Epidemiology Unit, Queensland Health, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    M Bright

  4. Department of Education, Training, and Employment, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    K Turner

  5. Tropical Regional Services, Queensland Health, Cairns, Queensland, Australia

    R Edwards

  6. Department of Education, Student Support Programs, Training, and Employment, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia

    J Dawson

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Correspondence to M Dick.

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Dick, M., Lee, A., Bright, M. et al. Evaluation of implementation of a healthy food and drink supply strategy throughout the whole school environment in Queensland state schools, Australia. Eur J Clin Nutr 66, 1124–1129 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/ejcn.2012.108

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