A Better Choice for Healthcare
Queensland Hospital and Health Services (HHS) employ over 100,000 staff and receive many visitors each year, providing a great opportunity to support health and wellbeing by implementing the A Better Choice Healthcare Strategy.
Why A Better Choice
A strategy for healthcare
Our health services are known for providing high quality health care, and Queenslanders can expect the same high quality care when it comes to supporting the wellbeing of staff and visitors. Role modelling healthier food and drink options in food outlets and vending machines sends an important message to the community about healthy living.
The A Better Choice Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Healthcare Facilities (PDF, 5MB) applies to all public health services, and sets targets for the sale, provision, promotion and advertising of food and drinks on site. The Strategy covers:
A Better Choice focuses on creating a healthy food environment by providing, promoting, and advertising options to encourage customers to make healthy dietary choices that enhance their overall wellbeing.
HHSs implement the Strategy by:
- classifying food and drink products into green, amber and red categories
- audit each facility against supply targets set out in the A Better Choice
- identify changes needed and taking action
- Monitoring progress.
The A Better Choice Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Healthcare Facilities supports retail and food outlets to make healthy options easy.
Strategy
The Health Service Directive
The A Better Choice strategy supports implementation of the Health Service Directive: Healthier Food and Drinks at Healthcare Facilities, which ensures healthier food and drinks are sold, provided, promoted, and advertised at healthcare facilities.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland collates and analyses data provided by HHSs each year and provides feedback on performance. HHS level data is provided to the Queensland public for transparency, tracking progress and supporting adoption of the A Better Choice – Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland Healthcare Facilities.
Refer to the Methodology (PDF, 369KB) paper for more details about how data is collected, analysed and reported.
2025 Hospital and Health Service performance
(PDF, 430KB)
2024 Hospital and Health Service performance
(PDF, 405KB)
Resources
Supporting resources
Resources to support your facility to provide healthier food and drinks.
Promotional materials
Health and Wellbeing Queensland have developed the ‘Pick me’ initiative to help customers to look for healthier options when purchasing food on site.
If you are a retailer or supporting a retail outlet in a Queensland Hospital or Health Service facility you could become a participating venue.
‘Pick me’ materials make it easier for customers to spot available healthier food and drink options at the point of purchase. The materials are practical, eye catching and designed to fit seamlessly into busy retail environments.
Tips for healthier cooking
(PDF, 304KB)
Healthy fillings for sandwiches, wraps, and roll
(PDF, 181KB)
Healthy hot food ideas
(PDF, 160KB)
Healthy vending planograms
(PDF, 173KB
Assessment support
To assist with assessments, healthcare facilities can access FoodChecker, a free online tool that classifies products, menus, and recipes according to the A Better Choice traffic light system.
For more methods and tips on classifying food and drinks, check out the A Better Choice Strategy for Queensland Healthcare Facilities.
Case Studies
A Better Choice Healthcare success stories
What's next
Ready to join A Better Choice
Use the support resources to start providing and promoting healthier options at your facility today.
Health and Wellbeing Queensland can provide tailored support for Hospital and Health Services. Contact us at abetterchoice@hw.qld.gov.au, to learn more or for assistance.
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