Platter of mixed sandwiches.

Simple changes for healthier catering

Providing healthier options through catering can be easy. Below are some simple changes that can have a big impact on how healthy the foods and drinks provided through catering services are.

Staff in an organisation can use this list to request healthier catering from their providers.

Sandwiches, rolls and wraps

  • Use mostly wholemeal or wholegrain bread.
  • Include vegetable or salad items in all sandwiches, rolls and wraps.
  • Use fish canned in springwater instead of brine or oil.
  • Avoid meats such as salami, pastrami, corned beef, etc.
  • Use small amounts of margarine only, and avoid butter.
  • Use reduced fat versions of mayonnaise, cheese and other dairy products.
  • Offer mini rolls, half wraps and mini bagels.

 

Hot food

  • Provide reduced salt versions of sauces and condiments.
  • Oven-bake hot foods instead of deep frying (e.g. samosas, dim sims, spring rolls).
  • Look for mini or ‘party-sized’ versions of hot finger foods (e.g. pies, sausage rolls).

Cakes, muffins and slices

  • When baking, replace half of the flour with wholemeal flour.
  • Add bran, oats or other grains to standard recipes when possible.
  • Add a fruit or vegetable to cakes and muffins.
  • Reduce the amount of fat used in baking, including butter, margarine and oil.
  • Serve cakes/muffins/slices in mini serves or half sizes.

 

Cheese, dips and fruit platters

  • Include fresh or dried fruits, or vegetable sticks on cheese platters.
  • Provide wholegrain crackers, and avoid flavoured cracker varieties (e.g. barbecue, salt and vinegar and cheese flavours) as these are generally high in salt.
  • Offer reduced fat varieties of cheese where available.
  • Offer reduced fat dips, which are vegetable or yoghurt based, such as tzatziki, beetroot, hummus etc.

You can also download this in Word or PDF (below) which includes a Service Agreement for caterers and clients to confirm their arrangement and commitment to healthy catering.

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