The Netherlands Nutrition Centre has achieved a great deal in recent years. Since 2018, 1,021 schools have earned one or more Healthy School Canteen Shields. This means that 54% of all school canteens are healthy.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre is increasingly seeing schools set a good example. They show that being healthy really can be normal. Almost every school now has a water tap. The puff pastry snacks have usually been replaced by toasted sandwiches. White bread is being replaced by wholemeal bread. There are far more vegetables and fruit in the canteen. And deep fryers have largely disappeared altogether.

Proud of schools

Participation in The Healthy School Canteen is voluntary. That is why the Netherlands Nutrition Centre is particularly proud of all the schools working on this. On days such as Healthy School Canteen Day, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre feels that positive vibe. There is so much energy in this country to offer students healthy choices and work towards a healthy generation. And the Netherlands Nutrition Centre does that step by step. Every improvement counts.

There is still some room for unhealthy products. But healthy products are very much in the majority. They are presented in the most attractive way. And during promotions, those are the products that fly off the counter at a discount. All of this is based on the latest scientific behavioural insights into how to effectively encourage people to make healthier choices. Read more about the background of The Healthy School Canteen.

Schools’ experiences

Schools are also happy to share their experiences with one another and with the Netherlands Nutrition Centre. For example, Haemstede Barger Mavo (HBM) in Heemstede explained how they developed a successful healthy canteen together with the students. And Kiem Montessori in Amsterdam shared their secrets, such as the tip to start small. Read these stories of experience.

The Netherlands Nutrition Centre is happy to help

Despite all the positive experiences, the Netherlands Nutrition Centre knows that there are also schools that are struggling. Because it really is not always easy. Even if it is only because they have to compete with the unhealthy offerings around the school. To make healthy options in the canteen so attractive and affordable that students actually choose them. The Netherlands Nutrition Centre already helps many schools, with advice and practical support and useful materials.

And for all those schools that could still use some help: the Netherlands Nutrition Centre’s Food Environment Advisers are ready to assist you. No one has to do this alone. Contact the Netherlands Nutrition Centre.

Full steam ahead

There are already plenty of temptations outside school. This makes a healthier school canteen even more urgent; let it be a safe environment. And naturally, the rest of the environment must also become healthier. More measures are needed for that, such as healthier supermarkets and no snack vans in the schoolyard.

The movement towards healthier canteens is in full swing. But there is still a great deal to be done. That is why it is good that attention is being paid to this subject. Because it is especially important at schools that healthy food is the most normal thing in the world. No one thinks it is acceptable for a school to be a candy shop.