KEY POINTS:
The tradition of the humble school pie will become increasingly rare if schools adhere to the Ministry of Health's latest guidelines on food.
Health officials yesterday released the framework for guidelines to be launched in June which will advocate that schoolchildren eat pies and sausage rolls only once a term.
Aimed at helping children to make healthier choices at school, the Food and Beverage Classification System Framework has been sent to all schools and early childhood centres, with the Ministry of Education's own guidelines, also launched yesterday.
The Health Ministry's deputy director-general, Don Matheson, said the guidelines, which classify foods into three categories, were not compulsory.
"Schools will approach it as they see fit, but the end result that we're recommending for them is that some foods are readily available and some are less available. We would expect that there will be less available fizzy drinks, deep-fried foods, lollies and confectionery."
Some schools would already have carried out these changes, he said.
"We're promoting what we call everyday foods, things like sandwiches, rolls, wraps, yoghurt, fruits and vegetables. We know from our surveys that New Zealand schoolchildren don't eat enough fruits and vegetables."
The guidelines will also address catering for large events in schools.
"A lot of choices people make about food is to do with the availability," Mr Matheson said. "Fundamentally here we're wanting to encourage schools to make healthy options readily available, and less healthy options less available.
"This is not about labelling or a vehicle to inspect children's lunchboxes. These are useful tools to help schools and early childhood education services encourage New Zealand children to make healthier choices every day."
The Education Ministry's Food and Nutrition Guidelines, also launched yesterday, have the support of the New Zealand Educational Institute, the country's largest education union.
School Guide
* "Everyday" foods (daily consumption) - sandwiches, rolls, yoghurt, vegetables, fruit, low-fat milk, water.
* "Sometimes" foods - pizza, macaroni cheese, muffins.
* "Occasional" foods (eg once a term) - pies, sausage rolls, chocolate bars, deep-fried foods.
Source: Ministry of Health
