A ‘policy’ is a set of principles or rules that guide an organisation towards its overarching goals. They are generally endorsed by the managing committee or board and published somewhere that everyone can find them.
Research shows that change is more achievable and lasting if it’s backed up by policy. This is because having a policy can help you:
- Communicate a consistent message about healthy eating.
- Plan and agree on a direction for change that aligns with the organisation’s values and priorities.
- Set specific goals and support canteen staff as they make the change.
- Help deal with negative feedback.
A Healthy Eating Policy is most effective when it has the support (or at least the endorsement) of the committee, and is regularly reviewed.
Important points to consider when developing a Healthy Eating Policy include:
- Why – What is it that you want for your organisation?
- Supporting health and wellbeing of members?
- Improving sporting performance?
- Improving/maintaining your reputation in the community?
- Providing a new revenue stream within your canteen?
- What – What will you be changing?
- Expanding healthy food choices?
- Encouraging members to make healthier choices?
- Focusing on junior members?
- Supporting local suppliers?
- How – What changes will you put in place to achieve your goals?
- Setting targets for Green, Amber and Red canteen offerings?
- Making healthy swaps?
- Altering the display of foods?
- Modifying pricing?
- Offering smaller serving sizes?
“If all your players are fit and healthy you know that they’re out there working. We don’t want people to be breaking down in their 30’s and 40’s so we try to look after them the best we can.” Yinnar Football Netball Club
Other things to consider include:
- Policy beyond the canteen –
- How will the policy apply to catered functions or bring-a-plate occasions?
- How will it apply to vending machines?
- Will you create a separate policy on healthy sponsorship?
- Support and endorsement –
- This is not always easy and requires a willingness to listen and possibly compromise.
- Consider providing your committee with some background information for discussion on healthy eating and its influence on health, wellbeing and performance.
- Ensure that the committee and members understand how a Healthy Eating Policy supports the organisation’s overarching goals.
- Document how this Healthy Eating Policy relates to or supports other established policies, such as those on smoking, drinking or inclusiveness.
- Promotion of the policy –
- How will you communicate your Healthy Eating Policy to members, supporters and visitors?
- Some of the ways to promote your new policy could be to:
- Display it around the organisation.
- Hand it out with membership or enrolment forms.
- Put it in your organisation’s handbook.
- Write an article about it in your newsletter or website/social media page.
- Hand it out at functions or meetings.
- Email a copy to every member, with some background on why it was created.
“From the healthy eating options at the tea breaks of games (including a stronger focus on fruit), through to the policies and procedures that have been put in place, the environment of the club has been changed for the longer term.” Moe Cricket Club
A Healthy Eating Policy is very specific to each organisation because each one has a different environment, values and needs. However, you can use the below templates as a starting point for developing your own policy.
Ballarat Aquatic Centre Healthy Eating Policy
Basketball Victoria Becoming A Healthy Eating Association
Policy template "Adapted from Victorian Little Athletics"
Guide to Developing a Healthy Eating Policy