Healthy eating policy

A healthy eating policy can support a club or facility with making healthy changes by describing the desired outcomes and providing clear direction on how to get there.

A healthy eating policy outlines a sport or recreation club or facility’s commitment to making healthier changes and sets the goals to be accomplished within realistic timelines.

What to include

A healthy eating policy has three sections:

1. Why statement

• Covering why the club or facility is promoting and/or providing healthier food and drink options.
• For example, At [Insert club or facility’s name] we believe that our community and members deserve to have their health and wellbeing supported. We are committed to ensuring everyone has access to delicious healthy food and drink options.

2. Commitment to change

• Listing the agreed changes the club or facility will make over the next season or 12 months, including realistic timelines for each change. Start with small changes or aim for bigger targets.

3. Plans for monitoring and evaluation

• Highlighting how progress will be measured and communicated. For tips with this check out ‘How to implement change, and monitor and evaluate progress’ from the A Better Choice Strategy for Sport and Recreation (page 13-14).

Start small

Small changes are a good way to start and ‘Tackle change one goal at a time’¹. A healthy eating policy might include,

Over the next 6 months [insert club or facility’s name] will:

1. Make tap water freely available with jugs at the canteen counter.
2. Include water in all meal deals as standard.
3. Increase healthy options on the menu including, fresh fruit cups, 2 varieties of sushi and lightly salted popcorn.

Aim for targets

To take it further commit to reach the Food and Drink targets1. A healthy eating policy might include,

From 1 July 2023 [insert club or facility’s name] will:

1. Provide 50% or more food and drinks from the green category.
2. Provide 20% or less of food and drinks from the red category.
3. Provide no more than 20% intense artificially or naturally sweetened drinks.

It is recommended that the policy is reviewed at least every 12 months, and progress is reviewed every 3 months or at the end of each season.

Finally, be sure to date the policy and have it signed and endorsed by the club or facility’s senior management or club committee.

Source

¹ See page 4–12 from the A Better Choice Strategy for Sport and Recreation.