Smart Choices - Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools

Healthy eating and regular physical activity are essential to promoting and maintaining good health. The Smart Choices - Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Schools 1.1M is all about offering healthy food and drink choices to students in Queensland schools.

Smart Choices applies to all situations where food and drink is supplied in the school environment including tuckshops, vending machines, school excursions, school camps, fundraising, classroom rewards, school events such as celebrations and sports days, and food used in curriculum activities.

Reflecting the Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents and the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating, the Smart Choices strategy categorises foods and drinks into three groups:

Green - Have Plenty 287K
These foods and drinks are encouraged and promoted in schools.

Amber - Select Carefully 287K
These foods and drinks should not dominate choices and should be avoided in large serve sizes.

Red - Occasional 287K
The availability of these foods and drinks should be limited to no more than two occasions per term.

In 2016, changes were made to the way some food and drinks are classified under Smart Choices to align more closely with the National Healthy School Canteens Guidelines and the Australian Dietary Guidelines . These changes are reflected in the updated 2016 Smart Choices Ready Reckoner 136K (table of food and drinks commonly supplied in schools). State schools are encouraged to implement these changes when they are able.

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This page was last reviewed on 13 Oct 2016

Free online training

Free Smart Choices online training is now available.

This training is suitable for state and non-state school tuckshop staff, volunteers, parents and teachers. The training program may be used to refresh current knowledge or as an induction for new staff and volunteers.

The program consists of three modules:

What is Smart Choices?
Planning a healthy menu
Smart Choices beyond the tuckshop.

Quick and healthy food ideas for schools

Former My Kitchen Rules contestants and high school teachers, Paul and Blair

View the Quick and healthy food ideas for schools videos featuring former My Kitchen Rules contestants and high school teachers, Paul and Blair.

Recipes featured in these videos are available for download from the Healthy eating section of the Smart Choices website.