This project is improving vegetable intake among teenagers through a co-designed study in secondary schools. The goal is to increase the provision of vegetable-based food options in school canteens to promote long-term healthy eating habits.  

Challenge  

Vegetable consumption among Australian teenagers is alarmingly low. In 2022, only 3.5 per cent of adolescents met the recommended daily vegetable intake (5.5 serves for girls and six for boys). Among 15- to 17-year-olds, five per cent of girls and seven per cent of boys consumed no vegetables at all.   

Boosting vegetable consumption during adolescence is critical since low intake during these years often persists into adulthood. Improving vegetable intake during these formative years can establish a foundation for a lifetime of healthier eating habits.  

Response  

The study involves six secondary schools – four metropolitan, and two regional – in areas with low vegetable consumption. Intervention at the schools involves planning and baseline assessments, followed by a term of increased vegetable provision in school canteens. Control schools will also be monitored during this period.  

Local vegetable suppliers are partnering with schools to provide seasonal, locally grown produce, aiming to reduce food waste, packaging, and transport emissions. Sustainability is a key concern for young people, making this an important aspect of the project.  

Students, canteen staff, and specialist chefs will co-design menus to increase the availability of competitively priced vegetable-based options. These menus will reflect students’ choices, preferences and cultural backgrounds, while accommodating the cooking facilities and skills of the canteen staff.  

The interventions will be integrated into a comprehensive school vegetable education program, emphasising the role of vegetable consumption in environmentally sustainable eating patterns. Program resources will be compiled into a school vegetable education kit, accessible to all schools across Australia.  

Benefit  

The primary outcome of this project will be increased vegetable sales, measured in grams per week both absolutely and per student, from which serves per week will be calculated. Additional outcomes include:  

• Increased vegetable consumption by students, assessed using smartphone technology to photograph meals and leftovers, either by research dieticians or students.
• An increase in total food sales.
• Student and staff acceptance of the intervention (measured via questionnaires).  

The program resources will be available via a school vegetable education kit, accessible to all schools across Australia. The project team hypothesises that the intervention will result in a 0.5 serve per day increase in vegetable consumption by students purchasing food from their school canteens, aligning with the minimum requirement of 40g of vegetables per day.