Peninsula Health worked alongside the Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS) and all internally and externally managed food and drink retailers across its sites to meet the Healthy choices: policy directive.
In 2022, over a six month period, Peninsula Health’s eight cafes/kiosks and 18 vending machines were transformed to successfully meet the drinks component of the Policy directive in all of its food and drink outlets and vending machines.
The key enabler for this work was having strong relationships with stakeholders from across the organisation including food and drink outlet vendors and managers, departments such as Support Services, Corporate Communications and Philanthropy, Nutrition and Dietetics, Volunteers, Mental Health, Monash Dietetic Students, and the organisation’s Health and Wellbeing Officer. A working group was set up with these stakeholders to provide support and to keep on track of the tasks ahead, such as menu assessments using FoodChecker, sourcing appropriate products and developing communications of the changes.
An important consideration was to ensure changes were going to be communicated to staff, volunteers and visitors. A communication plan was developed, which involved a Values Based Messaging approach on the positives of the change.
Peninsula Health is proud to report that across the food outlets and vending machines, 277 ‘green’ drink products were added, a 37% increase; and 347 ‘red’ drink products were removed, a 40% decrease.
Overall management teams at the outlets and kiosks have been supportive of implementing the Policy Directive and proud of the changes they have made.
“We totally support Peninsula Health to maximise the health of all our patrons in making healthy choices with their selection of no sugary drinks from our Kiosk. We the Pink Ladies were one of the first to be compliant with Healthy Choices, which came into effect on 30th September this year”. Manager - Pink Ladies (volunteer run food outlet).
By showing internal and external food and drink outlets can meet the Healthy choices: policy directive, Peninsula Health hope to inspire other health services to work with externally run outlets to do the same.