What is SWAP IT?

SWAP IT is an evidence-based, healthy lunchbox program for primary schools. The program supports parents and carers to SWAP what is packed in their child’s lunchbox from sometimes foods to everyday foods. SWAP IT is:

• Free – no cost for schools to take part. 
• Easy for Schools – our resources complement the existing curriculum. 
• Easy for Parents – visual inspiration to make lunchboxes faster and healthier with no extra cost. 
• Proven to work – SWAP IT enhances the nutritional quality of lunchbox foods. Parents love it, and teachers see significant benefits in the classroom. 

The SWAP IT recommendations have been developed based on the latest evidence-based government nutrition guidelines. For more information, click here. 

What is involved for schools?

• SWAP IT involves sending out weekly messages for one term to your parent/carer community. The messages are created by SWAP IT and ready to share, providing ideas and tips for packing healthier lunchboxes. Messages are shared via your school's usual communication platform (e.g. Facebook, school newsletter, school app etc), and takes less than 5 minutes! After the initial term, messages are sent at a reduced frequency of twice per term.
• The program also provides additional parent and classroom resources!

Best of all, we do most of the work for you!

“Our goal is to make this as easy for schools as possible – SWAP IT is designed to be ready to pick up and run with, to save schools time” Dr Rachel Sutherland, SWAP IT program director

 

Schools, this is your opportunity to improve student wellbeing and educational outcomes!

The food children consume at school impacts their concentration, health and wellbeing. By improving lunchboxes, we can make a huge difference! The school lunchbox contains approximately one third of a child’s daily energy intake – a significant opportunity to improve nutrition and health outcomes (1).

Everyday foods help kids grow and learn, and by swapping out sometimes foods we are setting children up for the best possible physical, mental and behavioural performance at school and home.

Let’s improve children’s nutrition!

In Australia, close to one quarter of primary school-aged children are classified as overweight or obese (3). A diet high in sometimes foods can lead to excessive weight gain and is a risk factor for future chronic disease.

Australian healthy eating guidelines advise limiting sometimes foods. However, research shows that these sometimes foods currently contribute to 40% of children’s total energy intake (1, 4). The most recent dietary survey shows that Australian children aged 4-8 years consume around ten times more sometimes foods than recommended, with children aged 9-11 years consuming three times the recommended amount (4).

References:

1. Sutherland R, Nathan N, Brown A, Yoong S, Finch M, Lecathelinais C, et al. A randomized controlled trial to assess the potential efficacy, feasibility and acceptability of an m-health intervention targeting parents of school aged children to improve the nutritional quality of foods packed in the lunchbox ‘SWAP IT’. International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity. 2019;16(1):54.
2. Sutherland R, Nathan N, Brown A, Yoong S, Reynolds R, Walton A, et al. A cross-sectional study to determine the energy density and nutritional quality of primary-school children’s lunchboxes. Public Health Nutrition. 2020;23(6):1108-16.
3. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. Overweight and obesity among Australian children and adolescents. In: AIHW, editor. Canberra2020.
4. Johnson BJ, Bell LK, Zarnowiecki D, Rangan AM, Golley RK. Contribution of Discretionary Foods and Drinks to Australian Children's Intake of Energy, Saturated Fat, Added Sugars and Salt. Children (Basel). 2017;4(12):104.