Food, Nutrition and Beverage Policy

NQS

QA2
​2.1.3: Healthy lifestyle - Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child.

National Regulations

Regs
​77: Health, hygiene and safe food practices

78: Food and beverages

79: Service providing food and beverages

80: Weekly menu

90: Medical conditions policy

91: Medical conditions policy to be provided to parents

162: Health information to be kept in enrolment record

168: Education and care service must have policies and procedures

EYLF

LO3

Children recognise and communicate their bodily needs (for example, thirst, hunger, rest, comfort, physical activity).

Children are happy, healthy, safe and connected to others.

Children show an increasing awareness of healthy lifestyles and good nutrition.

Educators promote continuity of children’s personal health and hygiene by sharing ownership of routines and schedules with children, families and the community.

Educators discuss health and safety issues with children and involve them in developing guidelines to keep the environment safe for all.

Educators engage children in experiences, conversations and routines that promote healthy lifestyles and good nutrition.

Educators model and reinforce health, nutrition and personal hygiene practices with children.

Aim

​Our service aims to promote good nutrition and healthy food habits and attitudes to all children and families at the service. We also aim to support and provide for children with food allergies, dietary requirements or restrictions, and specific cultural or religious practices.

Related Policies

• Additional Needs Policy.
• Enrolment Policy.
• Health, Hygiene and Safe Food Policy.
• Medical Conditions Policy.

The Nominated Supervisor, educators, staff, volunteers and students will:

• ensure children have access to water and offer them water regularly during the day.
• ensure routines are flexible enough so that children who do not eat during routine meal or snack times, or who are hungry, are provided with food. Educators will not force children to eat food they do not like or more than they want.
• encourage families to provide healthy food for their children at home which is consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, talk to families about their child’s food intake and voice any concerns about their child’s eating
• provide families with daily information about their child’s food and beverage intake and related experiences.
• provide age and developmentally appropriately utensils and furniture for each child.
• ensure meal times are relaxed, pleasant and timed to meet most children’s needs.
• integrate learning about food and nutrition into the Curriculum.
• never use food as a punishment, reward or as a bribe.
• model and reinforce healthy eating habits and food options with children during eating times.

The Nominated Supervisor will ensure staff receive training in nutrition, food safety and other cultures’ food customs if professional development in these areas is required.

Sources

• Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011
• My Time, Our Place Framework for School Age Care
• National Quality Standard
• Safe Food Australia, 2nd Edition. January 2001
• Get Up & Grow: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood
• Infant Feeding Guidelines 2012
• Australian Dietary Guidelines 2013
• Eat for health: Dept Health and Ageing and NHMRC
• Food Standards Code
• Food Safety Standards www.foodstandards.gov.au
• Food Safety Standards for Australia 2001
• Food Standards Australia and New Zealand Act 1991
• Food Standards Australia New Zealand Regulations 1994
• Food Act 2003
• Food Regulation 2004
• NSW Food Authority
• Work Health and Safety Act 2011
• Work Health and Safety Regulations 2011
• Australian Breast Feeding Association Guidelines
• Staying Healthy: preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services

Review

The policy will be reviewed annually by:

• Management
• Employees
• ​Families
• Interested Parties

Last reviewed: August 2018.
​Date for next review: August 2019.