Table 3 List of evidence-based interventions relevant to address contextual drivers of and improve primary school food environments in Gauteng

1. Government to provide resources to schools, for example taps, vegetable gardens and places for children to eat

2. Recognise, regulate, and allow informal vendors to sell healthy food and drinks on school property

3. Incentivise school tuckshops to sell healthy food and drinks by giving subsidies or decrease tax

4. Introduce peer nutrition programmes, for example school gardens, science days, markets, and other programmes organised by the scholars

5. Train school staff through workshops and discussions to improve nutrition environment within the school

6. Compulsory, child-friendly warning labels on all unhealthy food products

7. Help children make healthier choices by increasing the availability and appeal of healthier food and drinks in school tuckshops

8. Creatively integrating healthy eating in the school curriculum

9. Make sure all children who need the National School Nutrition Programme even if they are not in schools zoned for the Programme access it

10. Expand National School Nutrition Programme to include healthy breakfast and healthy snacks such as fresh fruit and vegetables

11. Create penalties (using a demerit or other system) for students who purchase unhealthy food and drinks

12. Regulate what kinds of foods can be sold at school tuckshops, using restrictions decided by the Department of Basic Education or school governing body

13. Introduce national laws to increase the price of unhealthy foods and make healthy food cheaper

14. Training of School Governing Bodies on how to oversee school food providers ensure high food quality and safety, and how to work with health promoters and environmental health officers

15. Training of food providers and teachers about existing school nutrition guidelines and national policies such as the National Tuckshop Guidelines and the National School Nutrition Programme implementation guidelines

16. Train students to understand nutrition rules and report the breaking of those rules

17. Bring food vendors who sell healthy foods into the school community and invite them to special events to increase their commitment to the school nutrition rules

18. Stop the use of food as a reward in schools

19. Stop advertising of unhealthy food products to children, including promotional materials or billboards or signs in the school and surrounding areas

20. Educating parents about the nutrition rules and regulations controlling unhealthy foods at school

21. Formalise regular meetings between school staff and tuckshops about school nutrition