Local schools are banning parents from putting fruit juice and flavoured milk in their children’s lunch boxes in line with a Barwon Health crackdown on “sugary drinks”.
Eleven primary schools now allowed only water or white milk after joining the “H2Only” campaign, Barwon Health said.
The campaign, in partnership with Barwon Water, encouraged primary schools to “adopt a healthy drink policy”.
Highton, Oberon, Tate Street, Newtown, Ceres, Roslyn, South Geelong, Herne Hill, St Margaret’s, Geelong East and Geelong Baptist College primary schools were the 11 on board so far, Barwon Health said.
The schools had four “exception days” annually for activities such as allowing orange cordial on Harmony Day or hot Milo for midwinter fundraisers, explained Barwon Health’s health promotion officer, Susan Parker.
“As each school day begins, parents hope that their child will be happy and get the most out of all that school offers. Schools, too, do all that they can to ensure that your child is happy and learning well,” Ms Parker said.
“Parents are the crucial component in any child’s healthy habits. Here in Geelong we have found that around 86 per cent of families already provide only water for their child at school, so we know that the vast majority of parents here want this sort of environment for their children.
“We want parents to encourage their child’s school to consider a water only environment; it’s easier, cheaper and it is so much better for their child’s health.”
Barwon Health announced in May its own ban on the sale of sugary drinks.
Now it wanted to help more schools “implement the H2Only initiative”, Ms Parker said.
“We understand that each school faces its own challenges, and we are happy to help wherever we can.”
Highton primary principal Tony Gove said parents thought the school’s ban on sugary drinks was “great”.
“When we have tours or open days and we tell them that we are a water-only school they think it’s great and is a point in our favour,” he said.”
“Students have less sugar now so we hope they are not having the peaks and troughs and that their learning is more steady. Having only water to drink is a significant part of that.
“It was really simple to implement the change to water only. The kids just accepted it and many parent were already providing water for their child to drink.
“Our families wouldn’t let us go back. It’s easier and cheaper and clear.
“It would actually be harder to re-introduce sweet drinks than it was to go water-only.”
Oberon principal Andrew Augerinos said the opinions of parents had “definitely changed” since the drink bans.
“They are now much more supportive. It’s gone from being something that’s, ‘Okay, we’ll do that’, to, ‘It’s a really great idea, it works really well’.
“Parents love it now.”
