Healthy food environments in NSW Health facilities

​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​Creating healthy food environments helps support staff and visitors in NSW Health facilities to make healthier choices. By offering more healthy options in food and drink outlets, vending machines, fundraising activities and catered events, we can support the health and wellbeing of our community.
 

​​​​ On this page

  1. The Healthy Food and Drink in NSW Health Facilities for Staff and Visitors Framework
  2. ​ Food and Drink Benchmark
    1. Food and Drinks Ready Reckoner
    2. Visual portion size guide
    3. Checking against the Food and Drink Benchmark
  3. Support guides
    1. Vending machines
    2. Fundraising
    3. Retailers
    4. Healthy catering
  4. Tools
    1. Healthy Food Information Service
    2. Healthy Food Finder
  5. Point of sale materials

​The Healthy Food and Drink in NSW Health Facilities for Staff and Visitors Framework

The Healthy Food and Drink in NSW Health Facilities for Staff and Visitors Framework (The Framework) sets out best practice guidelines to help retailers make healthier choices easy for staff and visitors to NSW Health facilities.

​The Framework focuses on:

  • providing mostly Everyday (healthier) food and drink options
  • reducing the availability of Occasional (less healthy) food and drink options
  • removing sugar sweetened drinks from sale.

​ ​Food and Drink Benchmark

The Food and Drink Benchmark supports the Framework by guiding retailers to:

  • offer more Everyday (healthier) food and drink options
  • limit Occasional (less healthy) food and drink options
  • support water as the best drink choice
  • swap sugar-sweetened drinks with healthier options.

Learn more in the NSW Health Facilities for Staff and Visitors Framework toolkit​

​Food and Drinks Ready Reckoner

The Food and Drinks Ready R​eckoner​ helps retailers understand the Food and Drink Benchmark and select meals, snacks and drinks suitable for sale in NSW Health facilities.

 

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Visual portion size guide

​This visual guide shows life-size portion sizes for common menu items. It helps retailers visualise portion sizes for some foods in the Food and Drink Benchmark. Maximum portion size limits apply to some Everyday and all Occasional food and drinks. ​

 

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​Checking against the Food and Drink Benchmark

Use the Food and Drink Benchmark ​guide​ to quickly review your food and drink offering against the Food and Drink Benchmark.

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​Support guides

​​A range of tools and resources are available to help you apply the Framework in your local setting.

These resources can help you engage stakeholders, customers and staff to promote healthier food and drink choices through food and drink service and other related activities. 

​Vending machines

Healthier vending machines give staff and visitors convenient access to healthy meals, snacks and drinks at any time. Read the Vending Machine Guide for practical tips.​


​Fundraising

Fundraising supports many community groups and services. The Framework applies to volunteer-run outlets that provide food and drink service in NSW health facilities.

Under the Framework, volunteer-run outlets are encouraged to:

  • ​offer healthier food and drink options for fundraising
  • replace traditional activities such as cake stalls or chocolate drives with healthier options or non-food options like art, crafts or plant sales.
See the Fundraising Guide ​for more information.


Healthy Fundraising Guide - Booklet

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Healthy food and drink fundraising in NSW Health facilities

​Retailers

Food and drink retailers play an important role in supporting healthier choices in NSW Health facilities.

The Retailing Guide explains how to apply the Framework and Food and Drink Benchmark in your outlet.

 

Healthy catering

​Use the new three-step Guide to Healthy Catering to offer healthier food and drink options at all events in NSW Health facilities — including meetings, conferences, workshops and staff functions. All events should follow healthier catering practices.

 A small display sign (counter talker) is available to promote healthier catering options at your events. You can find more details under 'Point of Sale materials' below.

Download the Download the Healthy Catering Guide​​​​​

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Healthy Catering Guide​

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​Tools​

To learn more about the Framework:

Healthy Food Information Service

The Healthy Food Information Service is a free service that helps NSW Health facilities and retailers find, sell and promote healthy food and drink options.

The Healthy Food Information Service can help you:

  • understand and apply the Framework
  • select healthier food and drink products
  • promote products using merchandising and point-of-sale materials
  • access the Healthy Food Finder​ and other helpful resources.

Contact details:

Healthy Food Finder

​Healthy Food Finder is a free online product look up tool to help retailers search for packaged foods and drinks to sell in NSW Health Facilities. You can use it to check whether products meet the Framework.

To sign up, visit​ Healthy Food Finder​.

​Point of sale materials

Point of sale (POS) materials are available to display in NSW Health food and drink outlets. These materials help customers:

  • understand why healthier food and drink options are being offered
  • learn why some items (such as sugar-sweetened drinks) have been removed
  • see why portion sizes may have changed for certain foods (for example, muffins)
  • promote healthier food and drink offerings at events or activities.

POS materials are available in two colour themes — green and yellow — so you can choose what best suits your outlet.

​Order free printed copies by contacting the Healthy Food Information Service:

Current as at: Monday 17 November 2025
Contact page owner: Centre for Population Health