Healthy tuck shops
Nearly half of 11-15-year-olds in Scotland don't eat breakfast every day, meaning the snacks that many children eat mid-morning, such as crisps and chocolate, are often the first thing they eat each day.
This makes it all the more important that break time snacks are healthy and that the school tuck shop sells healthier choices.
The School Nutrition Action Group (SNAG) or pupil council can find out what pupils and parents think of the current tuck shop, gather ideas for healthier choices and also monitor how well the new choices sell.
Ideas for change
Ideas for helping to ensure that healthier options are on sale at the tuck shop include:
- only selling low fat crisps
- replacing sweets and chocolate with cereal bars and dried fruit
- selling bottled water, milk drinks, fruit juices or smoothies
- selling home-baked goods such as muffins and fruit scones
- introducing yoghurt and fromage frais
- selling bread sticks, rice cakes and plain popcorn
- selling only fruit and vegetables.
Parents' role
Parents and carers can support the healthy tuck shop by encouraging their child to buy their snacks there rather than at shops on the way to school. Healthier snacks taken from home can also be a useful way of ensuring that children choose the right option and any of the ideas given above are a good choice.
Useful links
PDF file: Food Standards Agency Fruit Tuck Shop Guide
The Fruit Tuck Shop Guide for primary schools has been produced by the Food Standards Agency to help support schools as they establish and develop healthier tuck shops.
Grab 5! Healthy Tuck Shop
The Grab 5! website, produced by Sustain, has information and advice on how to set up a healthy tuck shop.
