Supporting positive food relationships in the classroom
School years are a key time for children to develop positive relationships with food. This resource offers practical ways your service can support them.
Developing a positive relationship with food
Understanding food rewards in the classroom
Children’s food preferences are shaped by their experiences with food and drinks. Using food as a reward can influence how children think about food.
Even using nutritious foods as a reward can have unintended effects. It may encourage children to link food with behaviour or achievement, rather than with hunger, enjoyment, and positive food experiences.
Schools can still create a fun and celebratory healthy eating environment, without relying on food rewards.
Supporting positive food relationships across the school
he whole school community can work together to create an environment that supports children to develop positive food relationships.
One way is to ensure that messaging around food in the school environment is positive and consistent. Whether it is teaching nutrition in the curriculum or conversations in the hallway, having a positive attitude towards nutrition is key.
Messages about enjoying foods from the five food groups are more effective when these foods are actively encouraged and provided.
Aligning with the school food policy
According to the Victorian Government’s School Canteens and Other School Food Services Policy, confectionery and sugary drinks should not be supplied at schools, and Occasionally (red) food and drinks can only be provided twice per term.
Reducing food based rewards and incentives in the classroom helps meet the policy.
Non-food rewards
Teachers can help students develop a positive relationship with food by providing non-food rewards in the classroom.
The advantages of using non-food rewards
- You will be supporting the healthy eating messages as part of the Australian curriculum
- You will be supporting children’s understanding of eating when hungry, not as a reward
- You will help students to have a positive relationship with food
- You will reduce the harm to student’s dental health
- You could save money that was previously purchased regularly for food rewards
- Students that eat better, learn better!
Non-food reward ideas
Remember that rewarding students doesn’t have to cost you anything. Try some of the suggestions below or get students involved with suggesting reward ideas.
- activity/game sheets
- bookmarks
- stickers
- pencils, pens, and markers
- ‘no homework’ pass
- earning extra house/team points
- items for active play
- tokens for privileges
- classroom games party
- classroom free time
- sit with your friends during class
- leaving the class first
- make the morning announcements
- be ‘student of the day’
For more information please phone 1300 22 52 88 or email heas@nnf.org.au
Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this document show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services. This document may contain images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Koori/Koorie’ is retained when part of the title of a report, program or quotation. Copyright © State of Victoria 2016
Written and reviewed by dietitians and nutritionists at National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government.
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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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