Cost effective menu and recipes#

Explore our collection of recipes that students will enjoy. Designed to utilise the programmes wholesaler (Gilmours) pricing and meet the nutrition standards.

Cost effective menu and recipes – Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme

Cost effective recipes quantity calculator#

This calculator helps to calculate the order amounts required to make each recipe based on the school roll numbers.

The quantity calculator is to complement the cost-effective recipes provided. They are not intended for recipes in general and ingredients cannot be added, altered, or removed.

The quantity calculator is downloadable as an Excel spreadsheet. There are a set of instructions on the first tab.

If you have any questions, please contact your Healthy School Lunches senior advisor.

Pre-negotiated wholesale ingredients#

Suppliers and meal providers can source ingredients of your choice.

You’ll have access to our pre-negotiated wholesale pricing for the programme.

You can read about this on the website.

Ka Ora, Ka Ako Wholesaler, Gilmours – Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches Programme

Online workshops#

Workshops on various topics are held each term to support internal model schools, and iwi and hapū meal providers.

Online introductory waste management planning workshop, Term 4 2025#

This workshop goes through the basics on waste management planning including developing a simple waste management plan and where to access resources.

Upcoming workshops will be posted below and in the Healthy School Lunches pānui:

• Tuesday 18 November 2025, from 3:30 to 4:00pm.

If you would like to attend, RSVP to [email protected] (cc. your senior advisor) with your name and the name of your school or kura.

A calendar appointment with a link to the Teams meeting will be sent to you.

Employment guidance for internal model schools#

Meal providers within the Healthy School Lunches programme need to continue paying staff at least the living wage.

Guide to paying a living wage in contracts – Procurement.govt.nz

If staffing changes are needed for internal model schools, contact the New Zealand School Boards Association (NZSBA) for employment advice.

Contributing primary schools – 2026 internal and iwi hapū meal providers#

If you are a meal provider on the internal or iwi and hapū delivery model, you’ll transition to the good value funding rate used by most other internal model schools and, iwi and hapū meal providers in the programme.

Funding for the Ka Ora, Ka Ako | Healthy School Lunches programme 

Support#

For ordering and budgeting help, contact your Healthy School Lunches senior advisor for support. You can also email our team.

Email: [email protected]