The A Better Choice (ABC) strategy aims to improve the availability and promotion of healthier food and drinks in Queensland Health facilities and workplaces.

Dietitian and Project Officer for North West Hospital and Health Service Tim Matthews and JCU placement nutrition student Kirby Sorenson have been at the forefront of this strategy in Mount Isa.

Mr Matthews said the end goal was to increase the availability and promotion of healthy food and drink choices consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines.

"We also aim to limit the availability and promotion of unhealthy food and drinks."

Mr Mathews said this could be achieved through implementing the food and drink traffic light system guidelines.

"We are looking at removing high energy sugar intake and we are aiming to get to 50 percent green choices - best nutritional value choose mostly, 30 percent amber - some nutritional value choose carefully and no more than 20 percent red - limited or no nutritional value choose rarely," Mr Matthews said.

Student Ms Sorenson said they had already found some results.

"We did an audit on the cafes and vending machines in the Mount Isa Hospital and found that they were not compliant with the better choices program," Ms Sorenson said.

"We hope our results and promotional work on healthy eating will positively impact future generations."

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