Restricting access to high energy options is understood to be one component in supporting better nutrition [1]

 In schools

In schools, e.g. restricting access to vending machines that offer snacks high in sugar, fat or salt, or sugary drinks, and withdrawing ‘fast foods’ and drinks from school canteens [6]

Other restrictions might include banning snack foods and food as rewards in school classrooms, prohibiting food sales at certain times of the school day, or changing the locations where unhealthy foods are sold [1]

In other public buildings

Greater attention should be paid to the provision of food within buildings, whether places of employment or leisure. [2]

This can include restricting access to vending machines that offer snacks high in sugar, fat or salt, or sugary drinks, and withdrawing ‘fast foods’ and drinks from canteens [6]

Reach
These actions are aimed at children and young people and those using or resident in other public buildings.  The actions are also relevant to workplaces and public sector institutions. Other relevant venues include workplaces, after-school, child care centres, community recreational facilities (e.g. parks, recreation centres, playgrounds, and swimming pools), city buildings, and prisons [1]

Related actions from Obesity Route Map action plan – energy consumption (1.6, 1.7,1.8, 1.9)

Schools
Continuing the excellent progress of the Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007and the subsequent Nutritional Regs in making schools exemplary health promoting environments.  We will encourage the uptake of balanced and nutritious school meals across all age groups:  

•   Working towards providing free school meals to more pupils in the earliest years of Primary

(ii) working with the food industry to deliver a wider variety of reformulated popular options complying with the nutrition regs; and
(iii) supporting schools to make remaining in school for lunch more attractive to secondary school pupils through a range of innovative approaches.

Exploring measures to restrict access by children to nutritionally inappropriate meals and high energy and energy dense foods from businesses located in the vicinity of schools.

Facilitating collaborations between schools and local food outlets to promote appealing, affordable lower energy and less energy dense options for pupils who choose to leave school for lunch.

Reinforce messages for parents on the content of lunchboxes and provision of snacks in and around the school day.

Related actions from Obesity Route Map action plan – energy consumption (1.3, 1.10)

Public sector
Working with Consumer Focus Scotland to extend the healthliving award to all caterers within public sector organisations and to have a stronger presence on the high street.  For all organisations already participating, the Healthyliving Award Plus offers an opportunity to achieve step increases in the required ratio of healthy options to other options on the menus from participating caterers.

Working across the public sector to promote and support the procurement of lower energy and less energy dense products and to support the adoption of nutritional standards analogous to school Nutritional Regs to vending machines, retail outlets and public and staff catering facilities in NHS and Local Authority premises and other public sector organisations.  The leadership of the public sector will set an important example which we would wish to see emulated by the private sector.