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Table 1 Strategies to improve the nutritional quality of foods in vending machines and food outlets in the Hunter New England Local Health District (HNELHD)

From: Healthier choices in an Australian health service: a pre-post audit of an intervention to improve the nutritional value of foods and drinks in vending machines and food outlets

Component

Strategies implemented

Vending machines

Food outlets

Building leadership and consensus

LHD Advisory Committee

LHD Advisory Committee

Memos from HNELHD executive to site managers to encourage support

Memos from HNELHD executive to site managers to encourage support

Engagement of HNELHD contracts manager

 

Resources, tools, information; incorporation into systems/procedures

Development of HNELHD Vending Policy Compliance Procedure*

Development of HNELHD Outlets Policy Compliance Procedure*

Healthier Choices requirements built into tender and contract processes for supply of vending machine services

Healthier Choices Guide and resources disseminated during site visits: logo and signage for products; posters; classification of product table; taste testing kit;% calculation tool

HNELHD vending contract Nov 2008 included Healthier Choices conditions

 

Contractor provided with: Healthier Choices logo for vending machines; and classification system resource

Healthier Choices fact sheets circulated to outlets each year

Offer of revised menu board with green and amber items labelled

Training

 

Invitation to outlet managers to attend Healthy Canteen expo

Follow up support

Reactive- dietitian advice on request†

Proactive - dietitian support

Site visits - two per year

Telephone support calls

Reactive – dietitian advice available on request via email or phone

Monitoring and feedback

Reactive feedback to contractor on planograms for planned stock†

Audit monitoring and feedback - tailored written reports to outlet managers

  1. *The Policy Compliance Procedure outlined that requirements be built into tender or contract processes. There was minimal capacity for this for outlets within this intervention period; however Healthier Choices requirements were built into tender and contract processes for one private outlet contract enacted during 2010. This outlet is not included in this evaluation as it had not been set up at follow up audit. Policy Compliance Procedures also included a communication strategy that included presentations to key stakeholders including health service managers and dieticians.
  2. †Feedback provided twice for planned drinks machines and once for planned snack machines, other advice on Healthier Choices was not sought.
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BMC Health Services Research

ISSN: 1472-6963

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