Helicon is a small-scale ‘green school’, where students are trained to become, among other things, gardeners and animal caretakers. The canteen is run by the students themselves. Every day, they prepare fresh wholegrain rolls and fruit salads using vegetables and fruit from the school garden. Free water is available from a special water cooler, and nutrition lessons are also provided. At least 80% of the canteen’s offerings consist of healthier choices, which means it meets the ‘gold’ level according to the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Guidelines for Healthier Canteens. Principal Dionne Tiggelovend-Geurts: “Healthy eating is a natural part of our school; it is everywhere: in the canteen, in the practical lessons and in the school garden.”

New record

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre is proud to reward the Nijmegen school with the 500th School Canteen Scale. Project manager Heleen Schuit: “What this school demonstrates is remarkable; it is quite literally a textbook example. But of course, many other schools are also working incredibly passionately to create a healthier canteen.” In 2018, the School Canteen Brigade of the Netherlands Nutrition Centre awarded 475 scales. Schuit: “It is fantastic that we are setting a new record this year with 500 scales. Young people are the future, and with all the unhealthy options available on the streets, it is wonderful that the school canteen makes the healthy choice possible.”

On the way to 950 School Canteen Scales

With this new record, almost 30 percent of the total number of schools in the Netherlands with a canteen have obtained a School Canteen Scale. The National Prevention Agreement of the Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport (VWS) states the ambition that by 2020, half of all school locations—around 950 in total—will have a healthy canteen. Schuit: “The School Canteen Brigade guides schools step by step in making their canteen offerings healthier. We have already helped many schools, and we would be happy to hear from schools that would also like to receive a visit and personal advice. Together, we can make the school environment healthier.”

Gelderland among the best-performing provinces

Gelderland is among the top three provinces with the most healthy school canteens. In 2019, no fewer than 89 of the 226 schools achieved a School Canteen Scale: 68 gold and 21 silver. Only Noord-Holland and Zuid-Holland have more scales. In Noord-Holland, 90 locations have a scale: 85 gold and 5 silver. In Zuid-Holland, 96 school locations have a School Canteen Scale: 83 gold and 13 silver. Heleen Schuit: “We see that schools’ enthusiasm for working on a healthier school canteen often spreads to other schools in the area.”

What are silver and gold canteens?

Silver and gold canteens give healthier products a prominent role without completely banning unhealthy choices. Schools can also opt for an ideal canteen, where only products from the Wheel of Five are available. When schools meet the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Guidelines for Healthier Canteens, they are awarded a silver, gold or ideal School Canteen Scale.

Healthy School label

A Healthy School Canteen is part of the Healthy School approach. Since 2018, Helicon has held a Healthy School label for the nutrition theme. In addition to the healthier canteen, nutrition is also addressed in lessons and in school policy.

From left to right in the photo: Linda Hoebink (School Canteen Brigade member), Dionne Tiggelovend-Geurts (Principal of Helicon VMBO Nijmegen), Arjo Heij (Team Leader at Helicon), and two students who help in the canteen.