Best quality nutrition at Kids College

At Kids College we provide the very best quality in all areas of childcare and teaching. We are all cognizant that this expands into all facets of what we do. Not just our education and care are exceptional, but our fresh cooked food menu is too. Each body is only as strong as the fuel that powers it. A massive factor in our everyday lives is providing great quality food to fuel those fires for learning. At Kids College we do our best to ensure that all our children develop healthy nutritional habits to support normal growth and development.

Why do we promote healthy eating habits at such an early age?

Nutrition is a pivotal component of health for people of all ages, from breastfeeding infants to the elderly. Nutrition needs change across the lifecycle. As children grow & develop in their earlier years of life, their need for nutrition significantly increases to help promote adequate growth and development of their little bodies.

Promoting healthy eating habits at an early age can lay down a good foundation of nutrition principles right from the start & ensure your little ones are able to prevent the onset of chronic illness (e.g. diabetes, obesity, heart disease etc.) later in life whilst giving them the energy they need now to live, look & feel their best.

Good nutrition at childcare needed for healthy brain development

A healthy brain provides a strong foundation for learning, behaviour and positive mental health.  Good nutrition is necessary for healthy brain development, especially during pregnancy and infancy. These are crucial periods for the formation of the brain.

Our children’s early years are arguably their most important and establishing healthy behaviours from birth, will lay the foundation for lifelong health and wellbeing. Nutritious food and regular physical activity supports the normal growth and development of children and reduces the risk of developing chronic lifestyle related diseases later in life. Kids College plays an important part in supporting healthy choices around nutrition and physical activity.

With so many Aussie kids spending part of their week in childcare services across the country, we feel it is important to provide a safe, nurturing environment that promotes growth, health and wellbeing through our education, exercise and nutrition programs – after all, healthy kids are happy kids!

How do I know my child is getting the nutrition they need when they are at Kids College Childcare

There are many types of childcare options available for children and infants, the most common being long day childcare centres like Kids College where children will spend at least 8 hours a day. In our centre, children are offered a morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea meal/snack and therefore, our menu’s aim to meet the majority of children’s dietary requirements.

National Quality Framework

Australian childcare centres are governed by the Australian Children’s Education & Care Quality Authority who work to provide care centres with guidance, resources and services to improve outcomes for children in care. The National Quality Framework (NQF) provides a standardised, national approach to regulation and quality improvement for childcare. Their 7-step framework emphasises important outcomes for children to facilitate healthy and safe outcomes and highlight Children’s Health and Safety (Quality Area 2) inclusive of healthy eating as a foundation.

Kids College menus are planned in accordance with Menu Planning Guidelines from the Healthy Eating Advisory Service which are based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and other government-run health initiatives such as Get Up & Grow. These guidelines are governed by experienced dietitians in conjunction with the government and provide support to facilities to ensure their menus meet quality area 2 of the NQF.

Kids College promotes healthy food and drink choices to children, while also encouraging children to eat to their own appetites, develop positive attitudes toward selecting food, and enjoy eating. We are proud to provide freshly cooked meals every day by our two qualified childcare chefs. We take into account the mixed bag of needs of our diverse children. Children and families are represented in our multicultural menus, as we enjoy a wide range of wonderful variety from all over the world.

Menu planning

Kids College menus are planned in accordance with Menu Planning Guidelines from the Healthy Eating Advisory Service which are based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines and other government-run health initiatives such as Get Up & Grow. These guidelines are governed by experienced dietitians in conjunction with the government and provide support to facilities to ensure their menus meet quality area 2 of the NQF.

Our menus are designed to provide foods from the core 5 food groups, including culturally sensitive foods (where applicable), lots of variety (menus are usually developed over a 6 week cycle to avoid repetition), exposure to different textures, colours and tastes (e.g. crunchy and soft) and limitation of discretionary foods and fluids (e.g. juice, soft drinks and packaged treats). W post our menus for the following week on each Friday on our facebook page.

We serve morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea with a six -rotation of menu’s so our children enjoy a good variety of tasty healthy food. Not just a lot of joy goes into our menu’s, but science too and we were very proud when our Kids College menu’s nutritional value was analysed by a group Dietetics students at 98% perfect.

Learning opportunities at mealtimes

Mealtimes provide an opportunity for children to develop good eating behaviours and learn about nutrition and food variety. They are also an important time for social interaction with other children and adults. We sit with children at meal and snack times and talk with them in a friendly, relaxed way. Recognise eating patterns/behaviours and encourage/model healthy eating behaviours in a safe, calm environment.

Good mealtime routines

Establishing good mealtime routines in childhood helps with maintaining a regular meal pattern throughout adolescence and adulthood. A regular meal pattern forms the foundation for a healthy balanced diet.

Veggie patch

We even use the veggies we grow in our centre too. Here we have mini tomatoes full of lovely flavour and a mini capsicum. These healthy eating messages are so important to teach children in the hopes of setting up lifetime healthy eating habits. Children can also participate in our kitchen garden program and food preparation activities which can also help foster good relationships with food and where it comes from.

Vegetarian

Some families follow vegetarian eating practices. Usually, this means they do not consume any animal products such as meat, poultry, fish etc. Many vegetarians still consume animal-related products, such as eggs, milk, cheese and yoghurt. It is especially important for vegetarians to consume a variety of legumes, nuts, seeds and grain-based foods, to provide the nutrients that would otherwise be provided by meat, poultry and fish.

Water

Water is essential for many important bodily functions including digestion, absorption of nutrients and elimination of waste products. Water accounts for between 50 and 80 per cent of body weight. Young children can become dehydrated quickly and should always have access to drinking water.

Quantities

Children have small stomachs, and their energy and nutrient requirements are best met through small and frequent nutritious meals and snacks therefore we offer morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.

Allergy Aware

We are an allergy aware centre who provides for the needs of children with anaphylaxis, asthma, allergies, religious beliefs and lifestyles. Every member of our staff team is trained in all these important issues. It is of utmost importance to have updated information regarding your children’s allergies and intolerances, this can be done by having the necessary forms filled in and this is kept on file and in the kitchen for quick reference.

Following government guidelines for childcare and for families

There are two main guidelines we adhere to. The Healthy Eating Guidelines and Australian Dietary Guidelines are provided to us by the Australian Government to enable us to ensure that children have healthy nutritional choices.

These guidelines have been designed so that they can be applied in a variety of early childhood settings including centre-based care, family day care and preschools. The goal of the healthy eating guidelines is to promote offering healthy food choices to children, while also encouraging children to eat to their own appetites, develop positive attitudes toward selecting food and enjoy eating.

This has also been developed in recognition of the rich cultural and religious diversity in Australia. To ensure that a range of needs were considered in the development, early childhood staff and carers, associated professionals, and parents from around Australia were consulted through surveys and focus groups. This consultation included a diverse range of people: some from urban, regional and remote locations, some with culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds, some from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander backgrounds, and some who care for children with a disability.

In Australia, we presently face an increasing problem with overweight and obese children. The intention of these resources is not to specifically target overweight and obesity, but to establish healthy lifestyle habits in children, in particular healthy habits for eating and physical activity. In turn, this will contribute to the prevention of weight problems in children, while promoting optimum growth, addressing other health issues such as dental health, and allowing children to thrive through social, physical and intellectual development.

The Five Basic Food Groups

The five basic food groups provide the nutrients essential for life and growth. Each group of basic foods provides a range of nutrients, and plays a role in helping the body function. Foods from the five basic food groups should be eaten every day, and can also be called ‘everyday foods’.

The basic food groups are:

  • Vegetables and legumes/beans
  • Fruit
  • Grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and barley
  • Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans
  • Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives, mostly reduced-fat (reduced-fat milks are not suitable for children under the age of two years)

We are encouraging a wide range of nutritious foods

  • eat plenty of vegetables, legumes and fruits
  • eat plenty of cereals (including breads, rice, pasta and noodles), preferably wholegrain
  • include lean meat, fish, poultry and/or alternatives
  • include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives. Reduced-fat milks are not suitable for children under two years, because of their high energy needs, but reduced-fat varieties should be encouraged for older children and adolescents
  • choose water as a drink
  • limit saturated fat and moderate total fat intake. Low-fat diets are not suitable for infants
  • choose foods low in salt
  • consume only moderate amounts of sugars and foods containing added sugars.

The Healthy Eating Guidelines For different phases of life

Infant formula is the only safe alternative to breastmilk during the first 12 months. If a baby is not breastfeeding, or is partially breastfeeding, an infant formula appropriate for the baby’s age should be the only other food consumed until solids are introduced. Breastmilk or infant formula should be continued while introducing solids, with other drinks avoided until the infant is 12 months of age. If you have decided on a formula that is suitable, please also send it to school and we will ensure that your child drinks his/her own formula as needed.

Introducing Solids

Breastmilk or formula provides all the nutrients babies need from birth to six months. When babies reach around six months of age, breastmilk and formula can no longer meet their nutritional

requirements, and so other foods should be added to their diet. At this age, babies are also ready to start learning the skills needed for eating solid foods, and to experience new tastes and textures.

Lifelong influence on healthy eating

Good nutrition is necessary for the active growth and development that takes place in early childhood. Good eating habits and a well-balanced diet support children’s health and wellbeing and minimise the risk of illness. Eating habits developed in the early years are likely to have a lifelong influence. Healthy eating in childhood minimises health risks and improves health throughout life. On the other hand, poor nutrition in childhood can contribute to lifestyle diseases such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Lifelong influence on healthy eating

Good nutrition is necessary for the active growth and development that takes place in early childhood. Good eating habits and a well-balanced diet support children’s health and wellbeing and minimise the risk of illness. Eating habits developed in the early years are likely to have a lifelong influence. Healthy eating in childhood minimises health risks and improves health throughout life. On the other hand, poor nutrition in childhood can contribute to lifestyle diseases such as obesity, cancer, heart disease and diabetes.

Australian Dietary Guidelines

We also refer to the Australian Dietary Guidelines, we make sure that food offered to children is appropriate to the child’s age and development, and includes a wide variety of nutritious foods consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (see below).

Guideline 1: To achieve and maintain a healthy weight, be physically active and choose amounts of nutritious food and drinks to meet your energy needs.

  • Children and adolescents should eat sufficient nutritious foods to grow and develop normally. They should be physically active every day and their growth should be checked regularly.

Guideline 2: Enjoy a wide variety of nutritious foods from these five groups every day:

  • plenty of vegetables, including different types and colours, and legumes/beans; • fruit, • grain (cereal) foods, mostly wholegrain and/or high cereal fibre varieties, such as breads, cereals, rice, pasta, noodles, polenta, couscous, oats, quinoa and barley ; • lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds, and legumes/beans; • milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or their alternatives, mostly reduced fat (reduced fat milks are not suitable for children under the age of two years).

And drink plenty of water.

Guideline 3: Limit intake of foods containing saturated fat, added salt, added sugars and alcohol.

  • Limit intake of foods high in saturated fat such as many biscuits, cakes, pastries, pies, processed meats, commercial burgers, pizza, fried foods, potato chips, crisps and other savoury snacks.
  • Replace high fat foods which contain predominantly saturated fats such as butter, cream, cooking margarine, coconut and palm oil with foods which contain predominantly polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats such as oils, spreads, nut butters/pastes and avocado.
  • Low fat diets are not suitable for children under the age of two years.
  • Limit intake of foods and drinks containing added salt.
    • Read labels to choose lower sodium options among similar foods.
    • Do not add salt to foods in cooking or at the table.
    • Limit intake of foods and drinks containing added sugars such as confectionary, sugar-sweetened soft drinks and cordials, fruit drinks, vitamin waters, energy and sports drinks.

Guideline 4: Encourage, support and promote breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding is the first food experience for most babies. Breastmilk has all the nutrients a baby needs, and is the only food required until around six months. Ideally, babies will continue to enjoy and benefit from breastfeeding until at least 12 months, or longer if the mother and baby wish. If you are able to express, it will be given to your baby as needed through the day.

The benefits of breastfeeding for babies

  • Breastmilk contains the appropriate nutrients for babies during each stage of their development.
  • Breastmilk helps to protect young babies from diseases, particularly gastro-intestinal, respiratory and middle-ear infections.
  • The sucking actions of breastfeeding help shape and prepare the jaw for teeth and speech.

Guideline 5: Care for your food; prepare and store it safely.

At Kids College we have our Food Safety program and work to the highest food safety standards Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HAACP) which is a preventative and systematic approach to managing food safety risks and is endorsed by the Australian Institute of Environmental Health and supported by local government.

Our whole staffing team are trained and successfully completed the Australian Institute of Environmental Health Foodsafe Food Handler Training Program every year. All staff must have a good understanding of the risks to food safety and the appropriate knowledge of safe food handling practices. This ensures all our staff teamwork in ways that ensure our high standards are practices to produce and handle safe food.

Kids Healthy Eating plate from Harvard School of public health

The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate was created by nutrition experts at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, based on the best available science, to enhance visual guidance.

Do you remember from past days the food pyramid? Healthy eating has been modernized now and we have a fantastic resource for teaching our staffing team, our families and the children themselves, ‘The Kids Healthy eating plate’. We were reflecting on our nutrition and found this family and children friendly idea from Harvard University in Boston Massachusetts that is modern, up to date and easily understood particularly in the classroom with the children.

The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate is a visual guide to help educate and encourage children to eat well and keep moving. At a glance, the graphic features examples of best-choice foods to inspire the selection of healthy meals and snacks, and it emphasizes physical activity as part of the equation for staying healthy. The Kid’s Plate healthy eating plate has a primary focus on diet quality, but is designed to further facilitate the teaching of healthy eating behaviors to children. It is a guide for creating healthy balanced meals.

The Kids Healthy Eating Plate tips

Eating a variety of foods keeps our meals interesting and flavourful. It’s also the key to a healthy and balanced diet because each food has a unique mix of nutrients—both macronutrients (carbohydrateprotein, and fat) and micronutrients (vitamins and minerals). The Kid’s Healthy Eating Plate provides a blueprint to help us make the best eating choices.

  • Along with filling half of our plate with colourfulvegetables and fruits (and choosing them as snacks), split the other half between whole grains and healthy protein:
  • The more veggies – and the greater the variety – the better.
  • Potatoes and French fries don’t count as vegetables because of their negative impact on blood sugar.
  • Eat plenty of fruits of all colors.
  • Choose whole fruits or sliced fruits (rather than fruit juices; limit fruit juice to one small glass per day).
  • Go for whole grains or foods made with minimally processed whole grains. The less processed the grains, the better.
  • Whole grains—whole wheat, brown rice, quinoa, and foods made with them, such as whole-grain pasta and 100% whole-wheat bread—have a gentler effect on blood sugar and insulin than white rice, bread, pizza crust, pasta, and other refined grains.
  • Choose beans and peas, nuts, seeds, and other plant-based healthy protein options, as well as fish, eggs, and poultry.
  • Limit red meat (beef, pork, lamb) and avoid processed meats (bacon, deli meats, hot dogs, sausages).
  • It’s also important to remember that fat is a necessary part of our diet, and what matters most is the type of fat we eat. We should regularly choose foods with healthy unsaturated fats (such as fish, nuts, seeds, and healthy oils from plants), limit foods high in saturated fat (especially red meat), and avoid unhealthy trans fats (from partially hydrogenated oils):
  • Use healthy oils from plants like extra virgin olive, canola, corn, sunflower, and peanut oil in cooking, on salads and vegetables, and at the table.
  • Limit butter to occasional use.
  • Dairy foods are needed in smaller amounts than other foods on our plate:
  • Choose unflavored milk, plain yogurt, small amounts of cheese, and other unsweetened dairy foods.
  • Milk and other dairy products are a convenient source of calcium and vitamin D, but the optimal intake of dairy products has yet to be determined and the research is still developing. For children consuming little or no milk, ask a doctor about possible calcium and vitamin D supplementation.
  • Water should be the drink of choice with every meal and snack, as well as when we are active. Water is the best choice for quenching our thirst. It’s also sugar-free, and as easy to find as the nearest tap.
  • Limit juice—which can have as much sugar as soda—to one small glass per day, and avoid sugary drinks like sodas, fruit drinks, and sports drinks, which provide a lot of calories and virtually no other nutrients. Over time, drinking sugary drinks can lead to weight gain and increase the risk of type 2 diabetes, heart disease, and other problems.

Finally, just like choosing the right foods, incorporating physical activity into our day by staying active is part of the recipe for keeping healthy. Trade inactive “sit-time” for “fit-time.”

Children and adolescents should aim for at least one hour of physical activity per day, and they don’t need fancy equipment or a gym—The Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans suggest choosing unstructured activities for children such as playing tug-of-war, or having fun using playground equipment.

Kids College is part of Telethon’s Play Active

Physical activity is critical during the early years of life for a child’s health and development, providing many benefits including a healthy body weight, improved bone health and cardiovascular fitness, and enhanced cognitive, emotional and psychosocial development.

However, many Australian children aged two to five do not get the recommended level of three hours of physical activity per day.

Early childhood education and care (ECEC) services play an important role in encouraging young children to be physically active, healthy and developing well.

Kids College have been chosen to be involved in developing, implementing and evaluating evidence-based policys and practices for improving physical activity and movement in children attending care.

Quote from Kids College Philosophy

‘We have stringent hygiene, health, nutrition, maintenance, safety and protection standards.’

National Quality Standard

QA 2.1.3 Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child.

Kids College Family

At Kids College we work each day embedding our values and philosophy into each facet of what we do. We continually improve our practices by critically reflecting and engaging in meaningful relationships with our community and for this we need your support and input. Make sure to follow Kids College Childcare on facebook, watch for our regular emails and keep an eye on our Kids College website. Join our Kids College family community and share in our vision of creating the very best childcare where children experience love, laughter and learning every day. You can reach us on Jennifer@kidscollege.com.au

With love, laughter and learning from your friends in the
‘village it takes to raise a child’
Teacher Jen and the Kids College Childcare family