Q: What is confectionery?
A: Confectionery includes chocolates, carob and yoghurt based confectionery, and all types of lollies such as boiled lollies, cough lollies, liquorice, lollies made from fruit juice, and jelly lollies. All confectionery falls into the RED category of the Smart Choices Food and Drink Spectrum.
However, foods containing confectionery, such as chocolate chip cookies, muffins or snack bars, may not fall into the RED category. These foods need to be assessed against the appropriate category in the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table on page 15 in Smart Choices.
Q: Why are lollies containing yoghurt and fruit juice in the RED category?
A: These lollies contain minimal nutritional value. Smart Choices includes examples of good sources of milk, yoghurt, cheese and alternatives, and fruit; for example, one 200g tub of reduced fat yoghurt, one piece of fruit or cup of fruit juice.
Q: Does food cooked at home and sold in the tuckshop need to be consistent with Smart Choices?
A: Food cooked at home and offered for sale through the tuckshop needs to be consistent with the GREEN and AMBER categories of Smart Choices.
While it is not an encouraged practise to be providing home cooked food in tuckshops there are instances where this may be necessary and safe practises need to be complied with in the preparation and transporting of food items.
The types of foods which might be cooked at home and sometimes provided for sale through the school tuckshop include baked products like cakes, biscuits, slices and muffins, and dishes such as lasagne, stir-fries, fried rice, chilli con carne, savoury mince, and curries.
As food is being prepared at home and not part of a commercial business, it is not an expectation that home cooked food is nutritionally analysed.
To ensure that foods are consistent with Smart Choices schools can:
Q: Are there any food safety regulations I need to be aware of when cooking food at home for sale in the school tuckshop?
A: Yes, schools and parents/caregivers should be aware of food safety in relation to selling food cooked from home. All food must be handled to ensure it is safe for sale; this includes preparation, cooking, storage and transportation. Hot savoury dishes are high risk foods compared to baked products such as cakes and biscuits and need to be handled carefully.
The overseer of the food business is responsible for ensuring the sale of safe food; this will be the tuckshop convenor in most cases. Contact your local Queensland Health Population Health Unit for more advice on food safety. Contact details are available on page 55 of the Smart Choices Tool Kit.
Q: Does Smart Choices apply to the school's swimming club?
A: Smart Choices should be applied to all school swimming clubs, regardless of whether the school is using their own school pool or an outside pool to conduct these regular events. All foods and drinks supplied at these events should be from the GREEN or AMBER categories. If RED foods or drinks are supplied to students (eg. through sale at the canteen), then the event would need to be counted as one of the two occasions per term when RED foods and drinks may be supplied.
The Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) 
can provide suggestions for healthy canteen options to both schools and outside organisations. A sample swimming club canteen menu is also available for download.
Q: Does Smart Choices apply to the school's swimming carnival?
A: Smart Choices should be applied to all individual school swimming carnivals, regardless of whether the school is using their own school pool or an outside pool. All foods and drinks supplied at these events should be from the GREEN or AMBER categories. If RED foods or drinks are supplied to students (eg. through sale at the canteen), then the event would need to be counted as one of the two occasions per term when RED foods and drinks may be supplied.
The Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST) can provide suggestions for healthy canteen options to both schools and outside organisations. Buyer Guides can also provide information on products that fit within the GREEN or AMBER categories of Smart Choices.
Q: Does Smart Choices apply to my school's Out of School Hours Care and Vacation Care programs?
A: As part of their accreditation process all Out of School Hours Care services must provide a written nutrition policy that was developed/revised in consultation with families and is consistent with advice from recognised nutrition authorities. This nutrition policy would reflect the intent of Smart Choices which is to supply healthy food and drink options to students. Services may wish to use the Smart Choices strategy and PANOSH (Physical Activity and Nutrition Outside School Hours) to inform the development of their nutrition policy. When developing fundraising activities, OSHC run by P&C associations should consider activities that support the healthy eating messages being given across the school environment.
Q: Can we supply full-fat milk products to students?
A: Yes, under the Smart Choices strategy full-fat milk products are classified as Amber products and are therefore not limited in their supply in schools, but should be selected carefully. Reduced-fat milk products are classified as Green products and are healthier choices for children. The Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (2003), developed by the National Health and Medical Research Council, recommends that the consumption of reduced fat milk products is encouraged in children over two years of age to reduce saturated fat intake.
Q: Why are RED food and drinks restricted for teenagers? Don't they need RED foods to meet extra energy requirements?
A: Compared to children, young people have higher needs for energy and nutrients during rapid growth and development.
The Australian Guide to Healthy Eating recommends that young people meet their higher nutrient needs by eating more foods from the five food groups: cereals (including breads, rice, pasta, noodles); vegetables and legumes; fruit; and milk, cheese, yoghurt and alternatives, and meat and meat alternatives. One to three serves of 'extra' foods may be included to add variety and meet the additional energy needs of active young people.
Dietary surveys show that young people are not consuming the recommended amounts or variety of foods from the five food groups. Instead, approximately six serves of 'extra' foods are being consumed every day, contributing to excess energy, fat, sugar and salt, and insufficient essential nutrients needed for growth and development.
Pages 5 and 6 of the Smart Choices strategy has more information on the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, or call 1800 020 103 to request a copy.
Q: What is a 'serve' in the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table?
A: A serve is the size of the food or drink as sold or provided. It refers specifically to the pack size as sold or provided. This may be different to the serve size listed on the nutrition information panel.
For example, a 500ml drink sold in a bottle lists the serve size as 250mls and includes two servings per pack. In this example, the energy (kilojoules) and sodium in the whole 500ml pack must be assessed against the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table under the 'sugar-sweetened drinks and ices' category.
An example of how to compare a snack food item against the criteria is given on page 18 of the Smart Choices strategy.
Q: What does 'sugar-sweetened drinks and ices' mean?
A: 'Sugar-sweetened drinks and ices' refers to drinks and ices where a sweetener has been added. A range of ingredients are used by manufacturers to sweeten drinks and ices including sucrose (commonly called sugar), fructose, glucose, fruit juice, and fruit juice concentrate. Drinks and ices sweetened with any of these ingredients must be assessed against the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table in Smart Choices. A product that claims on the label that it contains "no added sugar" may still be sweetened with a fruit juice concentrate.
Examples of sweetened drinks and ices include soft drinks, flavoured mineral waters, energy drinks, sports drinks, fruit drinks, sports waters, iced teas, slushees, ice blocks and water/fruit-based ice confections.
Sweetened drinks and ices with an energy (kilojoule) content greater than 300kJ or sodium content greater than 100mg per serve will fit into the RED category of the Smart Choices Food and Drink Spectrum. Drinks and ices containing artificial sweeteners also fall into the RED category.
Plain waters, plain and flavoured milks, plain and flavoured soy drinks, and fruit juices do not need to be assessed against the 'Occasional' food and drink criteria table.
Q: Why isn't there a sugar level in the nutrient criteria?
A: The 'Occasional' Food and Drink Criteria Table does not include a total sugar criteria. To keep the criteria as simple as possible and to ensure that foods containing naturally occurring sugars such as dairy products and fruit were not disadvantaged, no specific sugar criteria have been included. However, by setting a limit on the total kilojoule content of the product, the amount of sugar that can be added is limited. All types of confectionery, and many snacks and sugar sweetened drinks will fall into the RED category.
Q: How often can we serve foods and drinks in the AMBER category?
A: Foods and drinks in the AMBER category are not restricted in how often they can be supplied. However, as these foods and drinks are mainly processed, with some sugar, salt or fat added to them, they shouldn't dominate the menu at the expense of healthier choices. It is recommended that you limit the serve size of AMBER foods and drinks and choose products that contain reduced levels of saturated fat, salt or sugar when compared to regular products. Schools may choose to limit the supply of some AMBER foods to only certain days of the week.
Q: What types of drinks are the healthiest options for children and young people?
A: Water, and plain and flavoured milks are the healthiest drinks for children and young people and should be readily available and promoted in schools. Fruit juices, and fruit drinks are high in acid and can contribute to tooth decay if consumed regularly.
Q: Is the maximum serve size for fruit drinks 250mls and do fruit drinks have to be assessed against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table.
A: Fruit drinks DO need to be assessed against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table. One serving needs to contain less than 300 kilojoules and 100mg of sodium to fit in the AMBER category. It is recommended that the serve size of fruit drinks is limited to 250mls or less, however, depending on the ingredients used, some large serve sizes may still fit into the AMBER category - check the label against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table. Drinks containing artificial sweeteners fit into the RED category regardless of their energy (kilojoule) content or serve size.
Q: Is the maximum serve size for fruit juices 250mls?
A: No, chilled and frozen fruit juices of any serve size will fall into the AMBER category and therefore DO NOT have to be assessed against the Occasional (RED) food and drink criteria table. However, it is recommended that the serve size is limited to 250mls or less as large serve sizes can contribute excess energy (kilojoules).
Q: Can children still bring birthday cakes to school to share with their classmates?
A: Yes, birthday cakes can still be brought to school on a child's birthday. This is because these foods are brought from home. The strategy only applies to foods and drinks supplied by the school.
Q: How does the Strategy affect classroom rewards?
A: Food rewards provided to students must comply with the strategy, including food vouchers. Activities and rewards consistent with the strategy will also support the school curriculum.
Rewarding with confectionery or sugar sweetened drinks sends the wrong message and reinforces the RED foods which are already being consumed frequently and excessively by children and young people. Use other rewards such as certificates and recognition in school newsletters.
Q: What support is available to help tuckshops implement the strategy?
A: The Queensland Association of School Tuckshops and Nutrition Australia have a range of resources and services available to help tuckshops such as fact sheets, newsletters, buyers guides, advisory service, and trade expos.
More information is available from QAST or on 07 3324 1511 or Nutrition Australia on 07 3257 4393.
Q: Will tuckshop profits decrease as a result of implementing the Strategy?
A: It is often assumed that students will not buy healthier food and drinks from the tuckshop, and as a result it will lose business. However, students will buy healthy food and drinks when available, when they are promoted well, and when they have been involved in the decisions about what is sold. Students will keep coming back to the tuckshop if the food looks and tastes great.
There are many healthier alternatives to foods in the RED category that tuckshops can sell. Vending machines stocking water, fruit juice, milk and healthy snacks will still make a profit.
Q: Do fundraising activities such as chocolate and pie drives have to comply with the strategy?
A: Yes, food and drinks used for fundraising events must comply with the 'Occasional' Food and Drink Criteria outlined in the strategy.
As chocolates and most pies would fall into the RED category they could only be used if the fundraising event was one of the two designated occasions during the term.
Schools are encouraged to consider fundraising options that promote health and wellbeing. These could include seasonal fruits eg. mangoes, freeze dried fruits, toothbrushes, healthy food cookbooks, sunblock, nursery products.
Q: What does two occasions per term mean?
A: An occasion is any instance where food or drink is supplied to students by the school. Supply includes the offering for sale of food or drink to students.
Two occasions per term applies to the maximum number of times per term that a school is permitted to supply foods or drinks from the RED category.
It doesn't mean that each food or drink from the RED category can be supplied twice per term. It means that one or more of the RED foods or drinks can be supplied on two designated occasions per term.
Q: Why is the availability of RED food and drinks being limited to no more than twice per term?
A: It is very important that children and young people eat a wide variety of foods from the five basic food groups to ensure that their bodies get all the nutrients they need for growth and development.
By limiting foods and drinks from the RED category to no more than two occasions per term, healthier foods and drinks will be promoted as better choices to the whole school community.
Q: How do we get a copy of the Smart Choices package?
A: Two copies of the Smart Choices package have been sent to all Government and non-Government schools in Queensland. One has been addressed to the Principal and one to the President of the Parents and Citizens' Association or Parents and Friends Association.
Additional copies of the strategy and resources can be downloaded from this website.
Q: What is the Smart Choices package?
A: The Smart Choices package includes a copy of the Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools and resources to assist schools implement the strategy. The strategy provides a list of organisations and publications which can be accessed for further information on school tuckshops, nutrition and food safety. The package includes a Food and Drinks Spectrum poster and CD-ROM.
Q: Will non-Government schools be required to implement the strategy?
A: Even though implementation of the strategy is not mandatory in non-Government schools, non-Government schools will be encouraged to implement the strategy and model healthy eating practices in their settings.
Q: Does the strategy apply to both primary and secondary Government schools?
A: Yes, the strategy is mandatory for all Government schools in Queensland.
Q: How long do schools have to implement the Strategy?
A: Implementation of the strategy will be phased to allow schools sufficient time to review their food and drink supply and make necessary changes.
During 2006, schools should review their current practices and begin making the necessary changes to the food and drinks they supply to students. By 1 January 2007, implementation of the Smart Choices - Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools will be mandatory in all state schools.
Q: Does the strategy apply just to food and drinks sold in tuckshops?
A: No, the strategy applies to all situations where food and drink is supplied in the school environment. This includes vending machines, school excursions, school camps, fundraising, classroom rewards, school events such as celebrations and sports days, and food used in curriculum activities.
Q: Does the food provided by boarding schools need to be consistent with the Smart Choices strategy?
A:Students living in residents at boarding school receive the majority of their daily food and drink intake from these facilities, so it is important they have access to healthy food required for growth, to maintain a healthy weight and to prevent the development of chronic diseases.
In order to provide optimum nutrition to students at boarding school, the food and drinks provided should be consistent with the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating and the Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia . While Smart Choices is consistent with these guidelines it is preferable that boarding schools use these broader guidelines which outline the recommended serves from the five food groups to meet the daily energy and nutrient requirements of children and young people, rather then focusing solely on the requirements of the Smart Choices strategy.
Boarding school service providers should ensure that the majority of food and drinks available to boarding students provide sufficient serves from the five food groups including bread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles; vegetables and legumes; fruit; milk, yoghurt and cheese; meat, fish, poultry, eggs, nuts and legumes (these foods are classified as GREEN in Smart Choices).
Extra foods are those that do not fit within the five food groups, they are not essential to provide the nutrients the body needs and some contain too much added fat, sugar, and salt (these foods are classified as RED in the Smart Choices strategy). These extra foods may be included occasionally to add variety to boarding school students in accordance with the Dietary Guidelines. However additional energy requirements of young people can also be met by providing more serves of foods from the five food groups rather than via extra foods.
Q: How does GST classification impact on food and drink classification under Smart Choices?
A: The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) classifies food and drinks based on tax law to determine if the food is eligible to include the Good and Services Tax (GST). This classification system used by the ATO does not include specific nutrient criteria.
The Smart Choices strategy classifies food and drink as Green, Amber or Red according to specific nutrition criteria. The ATO GST classification and the Smart Choices nutrient classification are mutually exclusive. That is food and drinks may be classified under different food categories in each system.
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