Ill health associated with poor nutrition is contributing to an increase in preventable disability and death in New Zealand.  Approximately 11,000 deaths per year are linked to nutrition related risk factors such as high cholesterol, obesity, poor fruit and vegetable intake, and high blood pressure.  An estimated eight to nine thousand of these are likely to be due to dietary issues alone. Good nutrition and healthy eating practices in childhood are important in shaping lifelong behaviours as well as affecting overall health and wellbeing.

Children consume around a third of their daily energy intake during school hours. Many factors within the school can impact on food consumption, including the availability, look, taste and affordability of different food options, the healthy eating messages learnt in the classroom and the dietary habits of peers; because of this, the school is also an ideal avenue for the promotion of positive healthy eating messages.  Classroom lessons and existing social networks can be used to generate interest and encouragement amongst the staff and students, and on-site food services can be reviewed to ensure healthy food options are available.  Knowledge and skills gained in relation to healthy eating in the school may also be transferred through to family members at home, improving the health of the wider community.

Did you know?

• Approximately half of all school children buy some of the food they consume from the school canteen or tuck shop.  5% of the children buy most of their food there.
• 1 in 12 children (aged 2 to 14 years) are obese, and 1 in 5 children are overweight.
• Only 60% of New Zealand children are reported to meet the recommended daily intake of vegetables, and only 20% the daily intake of fruit.
• Consuming healthy foods and drinks every day not only improves students’ overall health but can also improve their learning and behaviour.

Information and guidelines on ways to support healthy eating in schools can be found in our Guidance documents section.  In order to ensure sustainable changes in healthy eating, it is important that these guidelines are implemented using a 'whole school approach'.   This means embedding healthy eating messages and practices into Curriculum, teaching and learning, School organisation and ethos and Community links and partnerships.  

To see examples of what other schools have done, check out our Case studies section, and be sure to look through our Resources for links to free toolkits, posters, books and other information to support your healthy eating programme.