National Healthy School Canteens

Guidelines for healthy foods and drinks supplied in school canteens

Drinks

Page last updated: 28 October 2013

Foods

Green/AmberServe Size
WaterGreenPlain water with nothing added is the best drink to quench thirst.

Tap, spring, mineral or sparkling.
Milk, plain and flavoured
(including soy)		Going from Amber (Full Fat) to Green (Low Fat)Reduced-fat varieties of plain and flavoured milks should be
encouraged.

Use plain reduced-fat milk to make milkshakes, smoothies or hot chocolate.

Hot chocolate made in
the canteen		Going from Amber (Full Fat) to Green (Low Fat)Adding flavouring to milk will add extra kilojoules. Use the following as a guide:
  • 2 heaped teaspoons of powder to 250mL milk
  • ½ metric cup of powder to 1 litre milk
  • 2 teaspoons of topping or syrup to 250mL milk
Flavour straws served
with plain milk		Going from Amber (Full Fat) to Green (Low Fat)Milk drinks are a good source of calcium and may contain
intense (artificial) sweeteners*.
Syrup/topping/powder
mixed with plain milk		Going from Amber (Full Fat) to Green (Low Fat)Coffee milk drinks (flavoured and those containing caffeine):
  • should not be sold in primary school
  • maximum 375mL serve size insecondary school
  • products with an advisory statement on the label; for
  • example, “this food is not recommended for children”
  • should not be sold in primary or secondary school.
Fruit juiceAmberServe fruit juice chilled.
Fruit/vegetable juice should be at least 99% juice with no
added sugar and 250mL serve size or less.
Vegetable juiceAmberChoose products with no added sugar that contain fibre.
Juice should not contain intense (artificial) sweeteners*.

*Code number and prescribed name for intense (artificial) sweeteners include:
950 (acesulphame potassium), 951 (aspartame), 952 (cyclamate), 953 (isomalt), 954 (saccharin), 955 (sucralose), 956 (alitame), 957 (thaumatin), 961 (neotame), 965 (maltitol or hydrogenated glucose syrup), 966 (lactitol), 967 (xylitol), 968 (erythritol)