In the Netherlands, 1 in 7 young people between the ages of 12 and 17 is (seriously) overweight. Young people encounter food and drinks everywhere: online, on their way to school, during breaks and after school. The vast majority of these products do not fit within the guidelines of the Wheel of Five. If we want young people to live and grow up more healthily, it is important that they can also eat and drink healthily at school. After all, school is where they spend a large part of their time.
But what is healthy, and how do you present it to students? This is something schools still struggle with, which is why they are keen to receive help. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre provides schools with a set of guidelines indicating how they can make their cafeterias healthier. It has now become clear that when schools receive help implementing these guidelines, their cafeterias actually become healthier than those of schools that received only the guidelines, without any guidance.
The same guidelines, a unique approach
Evenhuis: “Every school is unique. One has a large cafeteria with professional catering, while another is smaller and students prepare and sell the products themselves. However, the guidelines apply to all cafeterias. That is why it is important for each school to create its own implementation plan together with all those involved, such as the caterer, teachers, parents, students and the health promotion advisers from the Municipal Health Service (GGD). In it, they agree on what they want to achieve and who will be involved. My research shows that when schools receive support in implementing these guidelines, this has a positive effect on both the food offering and the appearance of the cafeteria. In addition, those involved become more motivated and gain more knowledge, which ultimately means they need less support.”
What this guidance looks like can vary greatly. The resources that schools evaluated most positively were personal visits and advice from a School Canteen Brigadier, as well as online tools such as the Canteen Scan, a step-by-step plan, the brochure explaining the guidelines and the fact sheet outlining students’ wishes and needs.
10 years of the School Canteen Brigade
The research results will be used to improve the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Healthy School Canteen programme and to provide schools with even better support, including through the School Canteen Brigadiers.
The approach involving the School Canteen Brigade is not new. In 2010, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre first sent brigadiers out to guide schools in secondary and vocational education in making their cafeterias healthier. Since then, almost all schools with a school cafeteria have been visited.
More information about the doctoral research can be found here.