Healthier tuckshops helping Queensland kids thrive

At Ferny Grove State High School, the lunchtime rush looks a little different these days. Alongside the usual sandwiches and snacks, students can now grab wraps packed with veggies, fresh salads, and fruit cups – all thanks to the Healthier Tuckshops program.

For Year 12 student Zaisha Davey, the change has been a welcome one.

“It’s not always easy to eat healthy, especially when you’re buying food at school,” Zaisha said. “That’s why I really like our tuckshop – the food tastes great, it’s affordable, and it keeps me going through the day.”
Classmate Madi Thomas agrees, saying healthy choices make a big difference when you spend most of your day at school.

“Since we eat a big part of our daily food while we’re here, it’s important that the food at school is healthy, filling, and doesn’t cost too much.”

Ferny Grove is one of 425 Queensland schools that have received support from the Queensland Association of School Tuckshops’ (QAST) Healthier Tuckshops program, which helps schools serve more nutritious, affordable, and sustainable food and drink options.

Building healthier habits, one tuckshop at a time

Since 2021, the Healthier Tuckshops program has been working alongside tuckshop convenors and volunteers to make it easier for students to choose healthier meals that align with the Smart Choices healthy food and drink strategy for Queensland schools.

The results have been impressive – 2 out of 3 participating schools have already made healthier changes to their menus, supporting better health outcomes for Queensland children and setting them up for lifelong wellbeing.

Why healthy tuckshops matter

Queenslanders aren’t eating enough vegetables – only 8% of adults and 4.6% of children get the recommended 5 serves each day. Poor nutrition and overweight or obesity now contribute to a significant portion of disease burden in the state, costing the health system billions each year.

Health and Wellbeing Queensland Chief Executive Dr Robyn Littlewood says programs like Healthier Tuckshops play a vital role in turning those statistics around.

“The Chief Health Officer’s report reinforces what we see every day — preventable risk factors like poor nutrition, inactivity, smoking, and obesity are placing a heavy burden on Queenslanders,” Dr Littlewood said.

“Our $43 million reinvestment in prevention programs is making an impact across Queensland — from healthier school tuckshops to tens of thousands of health checks and billions of steps taken; it is changing lives.”

Since July 2021, Health and Wellbeing Queensland–funded prevention programs have supported more than 450,000 Queenslanders to eat better, move more, and improve their overall wellbeing.

Investing in prevention for a brighter future

The Healthier Tuckshops program is just 1 of 6 Queensland preventive health programs receiving a share of $43 million in renewed Queensland Government funding through Health and Wellbeing Queensland.

Other supported initiatives include:

• My health for life – Supporting Queenslanders to reduce their risk of chronic disease through coaching and lifestyle changes.
• Deadly Choices – Empowering Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples to make healthy lifestyle choices.
• 10,000 Steps – Encouraging people to get active and track their daily step counts.
• QCWA Country Kitchens – Teaching rural communities how to cook healthy meals on a budget.
• Life Ed Queensland – Educating children on health, safety, and wellbeing.

Dr Littlewood says the funding represents a long-term investment in the health of all Queenslanders.

“When we invest in prevention, as the Queensland Government has done with Health and Wellbeing Queensland, we change futures. Fewer people need treatment, our world-class health system can focus where it’s needed most, and more Queenslanders live healthier, longer lives.”

Get involved

Queenslanders can connect with preventive health programs and discover healthier habits for their families by visiting the Health and Wellbeing Queensland website.