Food & Nutrition Policy

Cheryl, our full time cook who is here to provide your little ones with healthy and nutritious meals.

Aim:
To provide children in Long Day Care with meals and snacks that are appetising, consistent with dietary guidelines for children and providing at least 50% of the Recommended Dietary Intake of all nutrients


Explanation:
The centre provides food, and nutrition education at the centre that is consistent with National Dietary Guidelines for children, National Regulations, Munch and Move program and that is appropriate for their age, cultural background, religion or medical needs.


Legislative Responsibility:

78 Food and beverages
(1)  The approved provider of an education and care service must ensure that children being educated and cared for by the service-
(a)  have access to safe drinking water at all times; and
(b)  are offered food and beverages appropriate to the needs of each child on a regular basis throughout the day.

(2)  The nominated supervisor of an education and care service must ensure that children being educated and cared for at the service-
(a)  have access to safe drinking water at all times; and
(b)  are offered food and beverages on a regular basis throughout the day.

79 Service providing food and beverages
(1) The approved provider of an education and care service that provides food or a beverage to children being educated and cared for by the service must ensure that-
(a) the food or beverage provided is nutritious and adequate in quantity; and
(b) the food or beverage provided is chosen having regard to the dietary requirements of individual children taking into account-
(i) each child’s growth and development needs; and
(ii) any specific cultural, religious or health requirements.

(2) The nominated supervisor of an education and care service that provides food or a beverage to children being educated and cared for by the service must ensure that-
(a) the food or beverage provided is nutritious and adequate in quantity; and
(b) the food or beverage provided is chosen having regard to the dietary requirements of individual children taking into account-
(i) each child’s growth and development needs; and
(ii) any specific cultural, religious or health requirements.

80 Weekly Menu
(1) The approved provider of an education and care service that provides food and beverages (other than water) to children being educated and cared for by the service must ensure that a weekly menu-
(a) is displayed in a place at the education and care service premises accessible to parents of children being educated and cared for by the service; and
(b) accurately describes the food and beverages to be provided by the service each day.
(2) The nominated supervisor of an education and care service that provides food and beverages (other than water) to children being educated and cared for by the service must ensure that a weekly menu
(a) is displayed at a place at the education and care service premises accessible to parents of children being educated and cared for by the service; and
(b) accurately describes the food and beverages to be provided by the service each day.



Practice:

• Menus are designed using the nutrition checklist for Long Day Care menu planning
• The menu works on a 4 week rotating system to ensure a variety of foods are served and reflects our culturally diverse society. The menu is always on display for families.
• Children are encouraged to bring a drink bottle from home filled with water only. This is accessible to them at all times and is refilled when required. Water breaks are incorporated into the daily routine. Children are given their drink bottles at all meal times and are provided with a cup of water if they don’t have a bottle. They are to be taken home each day and washed ready for use the next day.
• Parents provide background information about their child’s eating habits upon enrolment and eating plans & strategies are put into place after discussions with parents regarding fussiness surrounding meal times
• Parents will be notified when their child’s not eating well
• Parents with children on special diets will be asked to provide details of food needs and may be requested to provide some items that the centre does not have
• An alternative meal from the menu is provided for children who have a special dietary requirement and cannot eat the meal on that particular day
• Recipes of food served at the centre are available for families
• Food and nutrition education is implemented in the program with the support of the resources provided by ‘Munch and Move’
• A ‘Taste of Harmony’ and ‘Big Vege Crunch’ are celebrated annually
• Staff sit with children at meal times and discuss the food that they have been served for the day
• Menus are reviewed annually at a Parent meeting, in conjunction with guideline changes and parent input
• Meal times are evaluated daily by the Cook, Educators and older children. These are documented and filed in the kitchen.
• Children’s independence is encouraged during meal times

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Reviewed and agreed upon by all staff August 2019


Sourced from     NCAC Fact sheets
                        Recommended Dietary Intake for Children
                        NSW Health Department (Munch & Move)
                        Menu planning for Children’s Services
                        Children’s Services Regulations (2011)

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