COUNCIL POLICY
Document No:
Nutrition Policy
Responsible Officer: Family Day Care Team Leader
Authorising Officer:
Approval Date:
Approved By:
SCS EY POLICY –
037
15 Jan. 13
Early Years
Coordinator
Review Date:
1 Jan. 14
Expiry Date:
Version No:
1
Aged and Family Services Manager
1. Purpose
To promote and encourage the provision of a healthy, safe and varied diet of food and drinks (whether
supplied by parent or FDC Educator) that are nutritious, socially and culturally appropriate. To ensure
that adequate amounts of food and drinks (with water being the preferred choice) are offered
according to each child’s nutritional requirements. Where children have known allergies, intolerances,
products and food that cause allergic reactions will be avoided.
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To offer age-appropriate nutrition for each child
To ensure all foods and drinks offered are safe and hygienic
To provide a supportive environment to foster healthy eating habits for the future
To support learning opportunities for FDC Educators and Co-ordination unit
Discussion with families on enrolment is essential in working out what / how / when food and
drinks will be managed. It is also important to ensure parents/guardians are aware of what food
and drinks their children have consumed through the day.
2. Scope
Evidence of link to NQS: 2.1.4, 2.2, 2.2.1, 7.3.5,
Evidence of link to ECSNR: 168(2)(a)
3. Application
4. Definitions
5. Policy
Strategies and Practices
ENROLMENT
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At the initial enrolment the Family Day Care coordination unit staff will advise parents of the
nutrition policy. They will ascertain whether the child/ren have any food induced allergies. The
relevant documentation (anaphylaxis management plan, Allergy Action Plan) will be
completed in consultation with parent/guardian and the child’s medical practitioner. The
Coordination unit staff will advise and forward information to the FDC Educator.
INITIAL FDC EDUCATORS / PARENT MEETING
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At the initial meeting, parents and FDC Educators need to discuss and document on the FDC
Educator / parent agreement form:
o how the policy will be implemented
o the child’s routine and food requirements, including culturally appropriate food
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o
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whether there are any food induced allergies (see above),
foods deemed unsuitable will not be given to children and will be given back to parents at the
end of the day. FDC Educators need to consider a strategy on replacement meals should this
occur.
Drinks
 Encourage FDC Educators and children to adopt water rather than sweetened drinks. Children
should have water available at all times and be encouraged to drink regularly. Sweet drinks,
including fruit juice, cordial, sports drinks & soft drinks are to be discouraged. Personal water
bottles clearly labelled with the child’s name may assist in encouraging children to drink water.
1. If milk is provided / offered, recommend full cream for children under two years of age, nonflavoured varieties.
Food
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Provide meals and snacks to children on a regular but flexible basis taking into consideration
the child’s nutritional requirements.
Continue to offer foods even if they initially may be refused – it may take 10 times of tasting a
new food before a child will accept it.
Encourage children to explore a range of tastes, textures and flavours – but do not force all
foods to be eaten.
Children are encouraged to become independent with pouring drinks, self feeding, serving,
accessing snack boxes (with FDC Educator guidance), using utensils, setting tables and
clearing up.
Allow sufficient time for the child to eat without hurrying.
Do not force the child to have some of everything before allowing another serve of a particular
food.
Respect requests by parents / guardians in relation to bottle or breast-feeding. Bottle / breast
feeding arrangements are to be made by the parent / guardian.
Parent provided food should be pre-prepared that can be either eaten cold or reheated
only to ensure that the FDC Educator is not spending significant time away from
children cooking or putting meals together.
Discuss the value of ‘everyday’ food and ‘sometimes’ foods as well as healthy living.
Encourage children to be seated whilst eating (with the FDC Educator when possible) for
safety reasons, to aid digestion, and to encourage social interaction.
Let children see your enjoyment of food by eating with them.
Make meal times enjoyable and happy occasions.
Use meal times to teach a child about food. “Where does milk come from?” “Milk is good for
our teeth and bones.” Discuss foods in the child’s lunch box.
Involve children in easy food preparation/cooking activities.
Allow simple decision making regarding choice.
Do not use food as a “reward, incentive or for comfort”. Instead provide children with positive
feedback and encouragement.
Food provided by the FDC Educator is healthy and includes fruit and vegetables every day
and limits foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar.
Encourage parents providing meals / snacks to provide nutritious food including fruit and
vegetables daily. Pre packaged snacks such as chips, chocolates, lollies and muesli and fruit
bars are discouraged. Refer to tip sheets / information attached.
Summary of dietary guidelines for children and adolescents.
- Healthy lunchboxes for children.
- “Try it – you’ll like it” vegetables and fruit for children.
- Healthy lifestyles to prevent and manage overweight in childhood
Advise parents / guardians of the food and drinks consumed by their child/ren daily.
Families are provided with information on the importance of children’s nutrition and healthy
eating through newsletters, visual displays and discussion.
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Breastfeeding:
 Encourage, support and promote exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.
 Breast milk or infant formula should be continued until at least one year of age.
Introduction of solids
 Introduce solids at around six months of age
 Start with low-allergy risk foods such as iron fortified baby cereals; follow this with fruit
and vegetables, and then meats
 Add only one food at a time and wait a few days before introducing a new food
 Pasteurised full fat cows milk may be introduced to a child’s diet in foods such as
breakfast cereal, yoghurts, custards, cheese, once meats are being eaten. However cow’s
milk is not recommended, as a drink, until after 12 months.
Milk and Dairy Foods
 0-2 years: Reduced fat milk and skim milk should not be given to children under 2 years
 2-5 years: Reduced fat milk and dairy products can be offered to children over 2 years of
age.
 Skim milk is not suitable for children under 5, however can be used in family meals, e.g.
custard.
 Over 5 years: Skim and reduced fat milks and dairy products are appropriate to use for
children over 5 years.
Children and Adolescents should be encouraged to:
 Eat plenty of vegetable, legumes and fruit.
 Eat plenty of cereals (including bread, rice, pasta and noodles) preferably wholegrain.
 Include lean meat, fish, poultry and alternatives
 Include milks, yoghurts, cheeses and/or alternatives
 Choose water as a drink
 Assist the FDC Educator in choosing and preparing foods, whilst maintaining
hygienic practices.
 Practice self help skills by serving their own food and drinks, feeding themselves and
putting their own plates and utensils away after eating.
Care should be taken to:
 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.
Drinks
 Boil all water that is to be fed to infants less than 6 months.
 Encourage children to have water as their main drink.
 Sweet drinks such as juice, cordial and soft drink are not needed for a healthy diet.
 Alcohol is not recommended for infants, children or adolescents. Refer to Tobacco, smoke, drug
and alcohol free environment policy.
Food safety
 Care for children’s food – prepare and store it safely.
 Follow food safety guidelines as noted in section below.
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Day-to-Day Service Management of Health and Safety Policies
Reviewed at monthly team meetings and as required
6. Records
Records shall be retained for at least the period shown below. Do we need to complete this table?
Record
Retention/Disposal
Responsibility
Retention Period
Location
7. Attachments
8. References
 The Healthy eating and physical activity guidelines for early childhood (Get up and Grow
resources 2009)
 Child nutrition website: www.health.vic.gov.au/nutrition/chld_nutritiion/index
 Family Day Care Quality Practices guide second edition 2004, Quality Area 4: Health,
hygiene, nutrition, safety and wellbeing. ncac..gov.au/factsheets/nutrition.pdf
 www.healh.vic.gov.au
 www.dhsv.org.au/oral_health_resources_fact_sheets_and_tip_cards
Resources and Further Readings
 Education and Care Services National Regulations
 Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010
 ACECQA National; Quality Framework Resource Kit www.acecqa.gov.au
 VEYLDF, EYLF, MTOP
 Good Food in Family Day Care (National Family Day Care Council of Australia)
 Department of Nutrition and Food Services Royal Children’s Hospital
 Dental Health Services Victoria
 Summary of Dietary guidelines for children & adolescents. National Health and Medical
Research Council 2003.
 Prepared and distributed by the Melbourne Royal Children’s Hospital, Nutrition Department
2004.
 Kids – ‘Go for your life ‘
Related FDC Documents
Related FDC Policies/Procedures
 Preparation, Storage and heating of infant formula and breast milk formula
 Tobacco, smoke, drug and alcohol free environment policy
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