COMMUNICATIONS

CDHB To Take Action On Healthy Food Policy

The Canterbury District Health Board is hoping other organisations will follow its lead with the implementation of a Healthy Food Policy and Healthy Eating Active Living Action Plan that was approved by Board members today.

One of the first steps in the action plan will be to phase out sugary soft drinks and foods high in fat and sugar from the snackboxes and 48 vending machines on CDHB sites. Sugary soft drinks will be phased out by the end of October this year.

“This is being done with the full support of suppliers who have agreed to provide healthier options for the staff, patients and hospital visitors who use the machines,” the CDHB’s General Manager Community and Public Health, Evon Currie said

“Vending machines are traditionally stocked with food and drinks that are high in calories, fat and sugar - contributors to the obesity epidemic - and not what we want to be promoting. To be a truly health promoting organisation and lead the way for other organisations, we need to provide healthy choices for our 8,400 employees and the thousands of people that come to our sites every year, “ Ms Currie said.

The Board’s goal is that by March 2007, healthy food choices will make up 70 per cent of what is available from CDHB vending machines and snack boxes. More healthy food options will also be required from CDHB cafes, volunteer trolleys and at CDHB functions.

Dietitian approved food and drinks to feature in the vending machines will include options such as crackers, cheese, yoghurt, soups, dried fruit, water, fruit juices and flavoured milk.

Staff and patients will also be encouraged to drink more water, with a new water fountain positioned in the foyer of Christchurch Hospital and water coolers available on most wards. “While flavoured milk and 100% fruit juices containing sugar will remain in the vending machines, they have other beneficial nutrients that make them healthy but occasional choices,” Ms Currie said.

The Healthy Food Policy sits under the CDHB’s broader Healthy Eating Active Living programme which aims to improve the health and well being of people living in Canterbury by achieving and maintaining healthy weight, healthy eating and active living.

As part of this programme, CDHB has been working for some time on making its sites, truly health promoting environments. Initiatives have included the introduction of Smokefree environments, the promotion of smoking cessation programmes for staff and patients, discounted gym memberships for staff; and activities such as the Sea2Sea physical challenge,

Ms Currie said the Healthy Food Policy is another opportunity for the CDHB to lead by example and assist people to make the best choices for their health.

ENDS