Exposing children to healthy food habits from an early age has become an important focus of the childcare and early learning experience.
The Guardian Childcare and Education Nutrition for Life program seeks to create mealtimes that are enjoyable, build confidence and encourage positive lifelong food habits.
This is particularly important at a time when families are busy and health authorities are concerned about the rise of diet-related medical conditions among young people.
Guardian Childcare Chief Network Officer Sharon Whiteman said Guardian centres strived to go beyond just “filling plates” and keeping children fed.
“We aim to care more about the food habits that children develop and to create opportunities for children to discover new tastes and skills,” she said.
“Through this, children learn independence, healthy habits for life and even take pride in mealtimes.
“We share our menus openly, so families feel inspired and connected to what their children enjoy.”
Through the Guardian Childcare Nutrition for Life program educators spark simple, age-appropriate conversations about food.
Children practice serving themselves and choosing what goes on their plate. They learn to feed themselves confidently and tidy up afterwards.
For families, menus are published weekly and there is a simple five-point nutrition tick box system to highlight balance.
Brett Norton, who is the chef at Guardian’s Daw Park centre, said children liked to understand what they were eating, and enjoy the experience.
They were also curious about the meals he created and regularly asked questions about their food.
Mr Norton said it was important to work with families to ensure that meals matched what they wanted for their children.
“I don’t get a lot of requests from families to serve particular food, but a lot of families take a keen interest in the meals and request copies of my recipes,” Mr Norton said.
“For children, the learning happens over time through their daily routines.
“If they are constantly exposed to good, healthy food they just tend to develop positive habits and understand that ‘this is how we should eat’.”
Mr Norton said, just like adults, children liked variety in their food, so he mixed the menu up regularly.
“Sometimes they catch me out though,” he said. We recently went through a stage where mashed potato was not welcome, and somehow word spread to all rooms so majority rules and it had to come off the menu for a while!”
“But generally, we are able to hit the mark on nutrition and give them food that they love to eat.”
Learn more about Guardian Childcare and Education’s Nutrition for Life program
