CDHB Healthier By Almost Two Tonnes

CDHB Healthier By Almost Two Tonnes

A year after introducing its healthy food policy, the Canterbury District Health Board is dispensing almost two tonnes less of sugar from its sites - and that’s just by phasing out sugary drinks from vending machines.

Since the policy was introduced last year, the CDHB’s Community and Public Health Team has worked with the owners of vending machines across all of its sites to ensure that healthy food choices make up 70% of what is available. Drink vending machines now also contain mostly bottled water, strategically positioned at eye level.

Recent research shows that since it began phasing out sugary drinks alone, an estimated 1.86 tonnes of sugar – equivalent to the weight of one and a half elephants – has been removed from across CDHB sites.

Vending machines now contain a much greater variety of healthy snacks such as crackers and cheese, soup, muesli bars, pretzels and nuts and raisins and water. The food being sold in CDHB cafes is also 70% healthy, which includes all hot drinks being made with low fat milk.

As a major health provider, the policy ensures the CDHB is leading by example by providing healthy food choices for its 8,400 employees, and patients.

Dr Greg Hamilton, Manager of Public Health Intelligence at Community and Public Health, says, “It’s important that we provide an environment where healthy food choices are made easy. This is particularly important given the rising rates of obesity and the fact that poor diet is the leading cause of death in New Zealand.”

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 Canterbury people by encouraging them to maintain a healthy weight, take part in physical activity and eat healthily.

As part of this programme, the CDHB has been working to make its sites health promoting environments. Initiatives have included making all CDHB sites smokefree, promoting smoking cessation programmes to patients and staff and encouraging staff to take part in physical activities such as the City 2 Surf.

ENDS

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