School canteens: A systematic review of the policy, perceptions and use from an Australian perspective

Abstract

Aim This review aimed to identify current research related to the use of school canteens in Australia, with a focus on their food and drink policy. In Australia, approximately 25% of 5–17‐year olds are considered overweight and obese. Up to 41% of energy intake for children aged between 4 and 18 years is found to come from discretionary foods. The structured nature of the school environment provides an ideal environment to address childhood obesity and encourage a culture of healthy eating. Methods A systematic review of three key nutrition databases: ‘CINAHL’, ‘Academic search complete’ and ‘Medline’ (inception to 2015) was conducted. Inclusion criteria were: Australian, peer‐reviewed studies; studies regarding the purchase of food from school canteens; canteen studies involving students aged 5–18 years, school principals, parents, canteen managers, Parent and Citizen Association members and teachers. Results The search identified 2741 studies with 12 meeting the inclusion criteria. In the main, studies were descriptive in nature with data summarised into four categories: (i) characteristics of canteens; (ii) canteen use and food availability; (iii) stakeholder perceptions and the role of school canteens; and (iv) compliance with policies and the barriers to healthy food implementation. Overall, compliance with healthy canteen policies was low, guidelines were rarely adhered to in terms of product provision and children had preferences for non‐healthy foods. Conclusions Strategies to improve compliance, overcome the challenges and encourage stakeholder buy‐in are necessary if food habits are to be changed and healthy cultures developed within the school environment.

Scoping study investigating stakeholder perceptions and use of school canteens in an Australian city

“…First, low participation rates limit the generalisation of findings. While participation was low in comparison to other studies, this study supports and adds to 10 years of research in this area by further highlighting limited behavioural change and the difficulties encountered by school canteens in fostering this change . Second, only those interested in or having an adverse view to healthy canteens may have participated in the study.…”

“…Over the last 12–15 years, school canteens in Australia have been under intense pressure from the government and the public to improve the nutritional value of foods sold. Yet the findings from this study, when compared to the Australian public school canteen literature, highlights that little has changed. Similar to this study, literature spanning 10 years has shown that ‘unhealthy’ foods are more commonly purchased from public school canteens; there is inconsistent buy‐in from public school parents; and the role of public school canteens is to provide healthy food, promote healthy eating and support the school healthy eating curriculum .…”

Is school community perception of student weight status a barrier for addressing childhood obesity?

“…A further barrier and major concern for many schools are inconsistent messaging from supplying unhealthy food options at school canteens/food services, driven by profit rather than a focus on health. National healthy school canteen guidelines exist, yet compliance within Australian schools is low . Additional support for schools to improve the food environment over and above the provision of health eating guidelines is critical, especially where profit is a competing goal.…”

“…National healthy school canteen guidelines exist, 31 yet compliance within Australian schools is low. 32 Additional support for schools to improve the food environment over and above the provision of health eating guidelines is critical, especially where profit is a competing goal. For example, we found school leadership who were concerned with the problem of childhood obesity to be the driving force behind establishing healthy food choices at one school.…”

Translational research: The ingredients are only the start of the recipe for better dietetic practice

“…The systematic review by Lawlis, Knox and Jamieson on the policy, perceptions and use of school canteens in Australia emphasises the importance of the evidence base and the need for higher quality research to bring about informed decision making . Their search identified 2741 studies, yet only 12 met the inclusion criteria; they noted the paucity of qualitative work, which ultimately limited the potential reach of the review process.…”