We've been around a while

Crunch&Sip celebrate 20 years in 2025. Take a look at what we’ve done in that time.

Research and Study

Dana, Liyuwork Mitiku., Jongenelis, Michelle., Sapountsis, Nina., Pettigrew, Simone. 2019. Implementation of classroom fruit and vegetable breaks in Western Australian Primary Schools.

Myers, Gael, Shannon Wright, Sally Blane, Iain S Pratt, and Simone Pettigrew. 2018. “A process and outcome evaluation of an in-class vegetable promotion program.” Appetite 125:182-9. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2018.01.023.

Jongenelis, Michelle, Simone Pettigrew, Iain S Pratt, Shannon Wright, and Gael Myers. 2017. “Assessing parents’ receptiveness to a vegetable-focussed in-school nutrition intervention.” Appetite 117:359-64. doi:10.1016/j.appet.2017.07.017.

Sharp, G., Pettigrew, S., Wright, S., Pratt, I.S., Blane, S. and Biagioni, N. (2017) ‘Potential in-class strategies to increase children’s vegetable consumption’,Public Health Nutrition, pp. 1–9. doi: 10.1017/S136898001700012X.

Hollier, L. P., and Pettigrew, S. (2015). Crunch&Sip Formative Research: Parents’ Survey Results, WA Cancer Prevention Research Unit (WACPRU), Curtin University, Perth.

Hollier, L. P., Pettigrew, S., and Jongenelis, M. (2015). Crunch&Sip Formative Research: School Staff Survey Results, WA Cancer Prevention Research Unit (WACPRU), Curtin University, Perth.

Pettigrew, S. and Biagioni, N. (2015). Crunch&Sip Vegetable Project: Focus Group Findings. WA Cancer Prevention Research Unit (WACPRU), Curtin University.

Carter, Owen., and Phan, Tina. 2012. Qualitative Investigation of Barriers and Facilitators to Adoption of the Crunch&Sip Program in Western Australian Primary Schools.

Barnes, Roseanne. 2010. Crunch&Sip Policy Evaluation: Results of the Audit Survey and Tally Charts.

Healthway. Case study: Fruit and Water Policy in School Pilot Project.

History

Crunch&Sip was adapted from the Great Southern Public Health Service and the Albany and Narrogin District Education Offices Fruit & Water Policy in Schools Project. Healthway funded the pilot project in 6 primary schools located in the Great Southern region in 2000. In 2002, the Western Australian Minister for Health acknowledged the success of the project with the presentation of the Healthway 'Excellence in Health Promotion Award' to the Nutrition Program at the Great Southern Public Health Service.

The Crunch&Sip program was launched to all Western Australian primary schools in 2005 with funding provided by the Department of Health as part of the Go for 2&5 campaign. From 2006, the program has been coordinated by Cancer Council WA. From late 2011 until June 2015, funding was provided under the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health.

Healthway currently funds the Crunch&Sip program. As part of the new funding arrangement, Crunch&Sip is evolving to have a stronger focus on the promotion of vegetables. While students can still bring fruit, vegetables are promoted as the snack of choice for Crunch&Sip breaks.