How to assess a menu for OSHC
How to assess your menu for outside school hours care
The Food and drink guidelines for outside school hours care (OSHC) can be used to assess a 1-week menu. If your service uses a rotating menu, you will need to assess each week.
A service can choose to assess their own menu or seek support from the local health promotion workforce. You can find local community health services through the Department of Health Community Health Directory.
Alternatively, you can register with Vic Kids Eat Well for support and recognition in making the changes required to the menu.
TIP!
Use Adobe Acrobat on your computer to complete the checklist. If you don’t have access to Adobe Acrobat, a web browser will still work. You may also like to print out a copy of the checklist to manually assess the menu.
Step 2
Have a copy of each weekly menu ready to complete the checklist.
- The menu should include all recipes used, including all ingredients.
- Note down any specific details about the foods and drinks you use. For example, if a product is salt-reduced, or wholemeal.
Step 3
Complete the checklist by referring to your menu.
- Place a tick in the box if your menu meets the guidelines.
- Use a cross to show that your menu does not yet meet the guidelines and will need some changes.
Step 4
If there are areas where your menu does not meet the checklist criteria, use this feedback to make changes to your menu.
- Refer to the outside school hours care section on the HEAS website for food and drink ideas when making changes to your menu.
- If you are unsure if the foods and drinks you are providing meet the guidelines, contact the Healthy Eating Advisory Service for free support
Step 5
Update the menu based on the feedback from the checklist. Use the resources from the Healthy Eating Advisory Service website for tips and ideas.
Step 6
Once the menu has been updated, reassess it using the instructions from step 2. You may need to start or download a new checklist.
Step 7
When the menu meets all requirements of the guidelines, use your completed checklist as evidence your service meets the National Quality Standard 2.1.3. You can also use this checklist as evidence for:
- Victorian Government recognition for the Healthy Eating and Oral Health Benchmark of the Achievement Program
For more information on foods and drinks that can be included on the menu, refer to the outside school hours care section on the HEAS website.
Privacy
National Nutrition Foundation will maintain the confidentiality of information you provide while working with the Healthy Eating Advisory Service to improve your menu. Your information will not be shared in a public domain without your permission. However, we may disclose information to health professionals or program partners for the purpose of providing you with support. We may also provide non-identifying information to other parties for reporting, research or
evaluation purposes. We will take all reasonable steps to protect the privacy of your personal information. If you want to access or change any of the information you have supplied, please phone us on 1300 22 52 88.
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past and present.
The Healthy Eating Advisory Service is delivered by experienced nutritionists and dietitians at National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government.
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