Nutrition

Policy Statement

At Cybertots Child Care Centre meal times will provide positive learning experiences for children who will be encouraged to develop healthy eating habits. Parents/Guardians will be consulted and asked to share family and multicultural values and experiences to enrich the variety and enjoyment of food to meet each child's daily nutritional needs.

Considerations:

• Philosophy - Children to develop to their full potential within a caring and supportive environment.
• Legislation - Quality Improvement and Accreditation System (Cth).
• Child's needs - Balanced diet; their food preferences to be respected; special diets followed; appetizing, colourful food; opportunities to try new foods; regular mealtimes; satisfaction of hunger between meals.
• Parents' Needs - Their religious and cultural beliefs and practices to be respectrf; input into and feedback about what and when their child eats.
• Staff Needs - Appropriate resources and facilities to provide for each child's daily nutritional needs; training for food handlers.
• Management needs - Be informed of any issues in relation to food provision that may impact on the management of the service.

How Policy will be implemented (Specific Policies and Procedures):

• Food is prepared and stored hygienically (See Policy on Health)
• The centre will provide children with balanced meals that meet the recommended daily nutritional needs of children within each age grouping.
• Meal times will be treated as social occasions. Staff members will sit with the children and interact with them to encourage good eating habits and an appreciation of a variety of foods. Children will be assisted where required but will be encouraged to be independent and to help themselves wherever appropriate.
• The menu will reflect a wide variety of cultures, and especially the cultural backgrounds of families and the local community. Recipes for all meals will be available to parents/guardians
• Lunch and three snacks will be provided to the children on a daily basis. These meals and snacks will be appropriate to the children's developmental needs and supply 50%-70% of their "daily recommended nutritional requirements".
• The menu will be varied and changed regularly. Wherever possible fresh seasonally available produce will be used. Menus will be planned with input from children, parents, the cook, director and staff, and displayed in the kitchen area in a prominent position visible to parents.
• Meals will be appetizing and provide variety in colour, texture and taste.
• Water will always be readily available.
• Meal times will be set to a regular schedule but individual needs will be accommodated and children who are hungry between meals will be offered small nutritionally appropriate snacks.
• Children will be encouraged to try new food but will never be forced to eat. Their food likes and dislikes and the family's religious and cultural beliefs will always be respected.
• Where children are on special diets / allergies, the parents /guardians will be asked to provide a list of suitable foods and their child's food preferences.
• Parents/guardians of infants and toddlers will be advised of their child's food intake each day. Parents/guardians of older children will be advised as appropriate.
• The provision or denial of food will never be used as a form of punishment. A child with allergies will not be isolated from the menu.
• The importance of good healthy food will be discussed with children as part of their daily program.
• Information on nutrition, age appropriate diet, food handling and storage will be displayed at the centre and available to all clients and staff.
• Guidelines for managing food allergies in child care:
  • ensure list of food allergies is displayed clearly for all staff that prepare and serve snacks and meals
  • encourage children to take responsibility for their food selections
  • staff will become familiar with the foods that potentially contain allergies
  • photographs of the children with allergies together with the days each child attends will be displayed for all staff.