Kyneton Primary School in the Macedon Ranges is creating a nutritious canteen for students with support from Vic Kids Eat Well and Omnia Community Health.
The school serves students close to 200 meals a week, and their canteen manager involved the school community in the development of the new menu. Families shared recipe ideas and students helped name new items, making the canteen a place for connection and inclusion.
The school’s canteen manager, Sarah Lockhart, has also introduced a range of tasty, fruit and veggie-packed options proving popular among students.
“The kids don't just come up to the canteen; they hang out and have a chat. Some have brought in recipes from their grandparents which is very heartwarming. Also, graduating students come back and comment that they miss the canteen,” Ms Lockhart said.
New menu items include homemade seasonal soups, veggie-filled pasta bolognese, lentil dahl with veggies, homemade baked beans with chopped spinach, healthy milk pops made with Greek yoghurt, milk and fruit and colourful icy poles made with vegetable juice. Nutritious options are priced affordably and promoted to encourage uptake.
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“The students were proud to name the healthy milk pops and loved ordering them,” Ms Lockhart said.
To help guide these changes, the school received on-the-ground support as part of Vic Kids Eat Well from Health Promoter, Kylie Stafford at Omnia Community Health. Ms Stafford said canteen manager Sarah Lockhart’s leadership played a key role in the school canteen’s success.
“Sarah championed tasty and nutritious options for the students and led the way in making this vision a reality,” she said.
Member for Macedon, the Hon Mary-Anne Thomas commended the school, located within her electorate, on their healthy changes.
"Kyneton Primary School is one of more than 1,300 schools and community organisations across Victoria making positive changes to their food environments as part of the Vic Kids Eat Well movement,” Ms Thomas said.
“It’s great to see the school taking a student‑led approach to shaping their canteen. They’ve introduced tasty and nutritious options that support students’ health, wellbeing and learning.
David Wild, Omnia Community Health CEO said Kyneton Primary School’s success highlights the power of local partnership to create healthier food environments.
“Kyneton Primary School’s success shows how local partnerships help transform food environments. By partnering with our service and Vic Kids Eat Well, the school has created real change in the canteen and this shows other schools, sports clubs and community organisations that improving food environments is achievable."
Dimity Gannon, Head of Healthy Places at Cancer Council Victoria acknowledged Kyneton Primary School and their nutritious boost.
“Kyneton Primary School shows how small, practical changes can have a big, positive impact. By involving students and families, they’ve created a canteen that brings the school community together to enjoy nutritious food and connection.”