We Don't Operate A Canteen

While not all sporting organisations have a canteen, most have times where food and drink are provided. This might be at social or fundraising BBQs, bringing a plate to the game/competition, break-time snacks or catered functions. These are all opportunities to promote healthy eating and encourage your members to eat a variety of nutritious food and drinks.

Many of the tips and tools contained within this resource include small changes and ideas that can make a big impact. You don’t need to make all of the suggested changes to create positive change. And you don’t have to make changes in any particular order. Have a look at what similar sporting organisations to yours have done and learn from their experience. Pick out what you think will work for your organisation. Start with simple changes and work up to more comprehensive changes over time.

Explore the following topics to see what tips and tools might work for your organisation. You can use the attached checklist to help you decide what to tackle first and to plan for future changes.


Your organisation can make many small changes to ensure a better choice of nutritious food and drinks is available. These changes do not need to be complex or difficult. Having a Healthy Eating Policy to guide your work can help your organisation to reach its healthy eating goals. Review the Policies section of this resource to see how this might work for you.

Healthy BBQs Healthy Plates
Healthy Catering Healthy Club Environment

Vicsport's Healthy Eating Policy

Developing a Policy Healthy Sponsorship Allergens


To successfully make healthy eating changes, you may need to trial alternatives, find the right timing for changes, identify promotional ideas and get feedback from members, visitors and the public.

See how AFL Victoria has taken the initiative to educate coaches to lead their players and club communities towards healthy food and drink choices.

See how Netball Victoria has integrated healthy food and drink choices in their NetSetGo program at Port Melbourne Netball Club.

The following links provide some ideas and tips for successful change.

Keeping it Going


The following case studies show how some Victorian sporting organisations have successfully made Healthy Eating changes. For further support in making Healthy Choices work for your organisation, contact your State Sporting Association or sport development staff from local government.

If you are in Regional Victoria, Regional Sports Assemblies provide volunteer support, information and training and development opportunities to local sporting organisations in rural and regional Victoria.

Trafalgar Victory Football Club

Valley Sport Regional Sports Association

Meeniyan Golf Club

Sports Focus Regional Sports Association – Loddon Campaspe region

Port Fairy Golf Club

Lara Pool Canteen Profitability


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