Canteen Champions: Sally, Hamilton & Alexandra College

School canteens and sports kiosks are important sites for celebrating healthy, nourishing food and drink. Our Healthy Kids Advisors are proud to work alongside hundreds of local ‘Canteen Champions’ to support them in increasing fresh, delicious food options for their community's young people and families.

We've hand-picked four Canteen Champions from Victoria to share their stories, vision and best-selling dishes. The final profile is Sally, a full-time employee at Hamilton & Alexandra College in the Southern Grampians.

“I run the canteen five days a week from 8.30 am to 2.30 pm. Recess is served at 11.00 am and lunch at 1.00 pm. I have help from student volunteers, Parent & Friends Association members and other parent helpers. Soon, I’ll have an employed assistant to help me out three days a week.

My days are busy, but I have a good routine now. I write a daily plan for what I’m preparing, so that helps to keep me focused. I’m very organised.

First, I cook all the hot food for the day, such as muffins, sausage rolls, zucchini slices and a daily special. Then, I receive and prepare the junior school lunch orders and get the food prepared, and in the warmers or fridges, ready for recess.

After recess, I clean up and unpack any deliveries that may have come. Now it’s time to get the menu ready for lunch! I cook mini pizzas and a daily special, then prepare any extra hot food that may need to be stocked up after recess. If time allows, I will do some preparation for the following day. After lunch service, it’s time for dishes, cleaning, washing the floor, and restocking for the next day.

At lunch, I serve around 100 students, but often students will come back at least twice! Muesli cups, chicken and salad wraps, zucchini slices, homemade sausage rolls, fruit cups and rice paper rolls are the best sellers. They’re popular because of the visual effect.

Anything that looks good, they will try.

Since adding healthy items made from scratch, more students are choosing healthier options, and more students are buying from the canteen than in the past.

My best tip is to try and make something that can be used in more than one way, like a large batch of bolognese. I can use this for lasagne, in scrolls or in pinwheels. The other day I had some left in the fridge, so I made cheesy bolognese rolls. I try to think out of the box a bit.

To overcome the challenge of getting the students used to healthy changes, I decided to start very slowly. I introduced one new menu idea and only made one of them, and someone tried it. The next day I made two of the new menu idea, and so on, gradually increasing the numbers each day. The fruit cups are a perfect example. I now make between 12-20 per day.

Word of mouth among the students also helps with acceptance. If someone has something they like, they tell others, and then they come to try it too.

I love getting to know the students, and I love that I get to cook for them. It’s fantastic getting to do something I love.”

Keen to hear from our other Canteen Champions?

• Read about Jodie from Maryborough Giants here. 
• Read about Kerrie from Bolwarra Primary School here. 
• Read about Zoe from Athol Road Primary here. 

About the Healthy Kids Advisors initiative 

The Healthy Kids Advisors initiative is delivered by the Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden Foundation and supported by the Victorian Government and Australian Government. 

This community engagement initiative is active in 13 priority communities to spread pleasurable food education and encourage participation in the state-wide Vic Kids Eat Well movement. 

In collaboration with local health promoters, Council and community, our Advisors offer free support and simple ideas to boost healthy and delicious food and drink in schools, sports clubs, after-hours care and council-run facilities. 

Want more information?

Visit the Healthy Kids Advisors news page or contact us at hka@kitchengardenfoundation.org.au

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