This project aims to increase vegetable intake among teenagers by improving the availability of vegetable-based options in secondary school canteens. Six schools (four metropolitan and two regional) in areas of low vegetable consumption will take part in the research project, three schools will receive the intervention and three will act as controls. In the intervention schools, a qualified, professional chef will work with the school canteen manager and students to co-design tasty, competitively priced, vegetable-rich menu items using seasonal produce. They will also co-design a promotion campaign for the new vegetable items. Over the next few weeks, the professional chef will upskill and support the canteen team to roll out the new items.
The project team will measure changes in vegetable sales and consumption, total food sales, and student and canteen manager acceptance of the intervention. The resources developed through the study will be made available nationally through a school vegetable education kit. The project team hypothesises that the intervention will increase students’ vegetable intake by 0.5 serves (40g) per day.
This project is funded through Hort Innovation Frontiers, with co-investment from Deakin University, and contributions from the Australian Government.
Project code: HN24004