Many sport and recreational facilities tend to offer drinks with added sugar through their canteens, kiosks and vending machines.
Drinking water instead of these sugary sweetened beverages is not only better for health, but incredibly important for hydration before, during and after playing sport and being active.
Greater Shepparton City Council was one of eight selected councils to be awarded a grant from VicHealth to implement the ‘Water In Sport’ project. The project aimed to improve the availability and promotion of water instead of sugary drinks in council run sport and recreation facilities.
The funds were utilised to undertake a ‘nudge’ otherwise known as a ‘small change’ in all council-run facilities designed to encourage consumers to make healthier choices by simply changing the placement of particular drinks, or the products on offer.
The aim was not to remove peoples choices but to provide opportunities for making healthier choices and consuming more water – making the healthy choice, the easy choice!
The council-run facilities which were a part of the program and have improved access to water and healthy drinks, are:
- SPC KidsTown
- Shepparton Sports Stadium
- Rural Outdoor Pools – Merrigum, Tatura, Mooroopna
- Aquamoves Verve Café
Get Involved
Sugary drinks are currently the largest source of added sugars in the Australian diet. High consumption contributes to poor health, in particular, the increased risk of weight gain, some chronic diseases and an increased risk of tooth decay.
If you are looking for a challenge to swap sugary drinks with water, why not try VicHealth’s H30 Challenge. Click here to join.
Would you like to make small changes to the food and/or drinks sold or made available in your local business, sports club, school or community group but don’t know where to start?
Contact Council’s Healthy Communities Branch on 03 5832 9431 or email healthycommunities@shepparton.vic.gov.au for one-on-one support to help make small changes that improve the availability and promotion of healthier food and drink choices without impacting on the bottom line.