Understanding Food Labels & Healthy Star Ratings

Healthy Snack Choices: Understanding Food Labels & Health Star Ratings

To support student wellbeing, we’re sharing some simple tips to help families choose healthier snacks for school.

You may have seen recent discussion about the Health Star Rating (HSR) system. While the stars can be a helpful quick guide, not all products display them — and companies often only use the rating when their product scores well. This means the stars don’t always give the full picture.

A quick look at the food label is still the most reliable way to compare products. Here are three easy steps:

1. Check the Nutrition Information Panel (per 100 g/mL)Choose options with:

• lower sugar
• lower saturated fat
• lower sodium (salt)
• higher fibre (especially for grain-based snacks)

2. Read the Ingredients List

• Ingredients appear in order of weight
• The first 3 ingredients tell you the most
• Watch for added sugars (e.g., fructose, glucose, syrup)

3. Use Health Star Ratings as a “bonus check”If the stars are there, they can help — but label reading gives the clearest picture.

For families wanting extra support, here’s a helpful guide:Food Label Reading Guide

Great everyday snack ideas: fresh fruit, cut veggies, wholegrain crackers, oats, yoghurt, and wholemeal sandwiches.

Thank you for helping our students build healthy habits every day!