Establishing a healthy diet for kids is a crucial step in ensuring that they adopt good lifelong eating habits. Additionally, there exists an undeniable link between your child’s nutrition, their health and their ability to learn. Research studies indicate that diet during your child’s formative years has a direct correlation with their health and academic performance later in life. That’s why, at Endeavour Early Education, we prioritise healthy eating for all children.
The Australian Dietary Guidelines state that if a child is being cared for at a venue for eight hours or more, the food program for the childcare centre should allocate that child one main meal and two mid-meals that should provide at least 50% of the Recommended Dietary Intake (RDI) for all nutrients (children have smaller stomach which naturally limits the amount of food they can consume in any one sitting, hence they require small ‘mid-meals’). The essential nutrients are derived from the five food groups: vegetables & legumes, fruit, grain-based foods, lean meat & poultry, and dairy or dairy alternatives.
The child care nutrition guidelines are implemented by both our expert educators and onsite chefs. Our children grow their organic fruit and vegetables in our garden and cook and eat them once they are ready to be consumed. We also encourage ‘dirty play’ in our gardening beds, where the children get to take a hands-on approach to natural foods. We believe that a healthy diet for kids should encourage them to develop a broad palette, and what better way to do this than by making food a part of play and learning?
When you begin to research daycare venues, the food program on offer at the childcare centre should be one of your primary concerns. All early education centres are required to meet basic child care nutrition guidelines. Our children’s meals consist of organic, biodynamic produce that has been locally sourced from certified organic suppliers and meets hormone and pesticide free standards. Healthy eating is vital for children, so make sure that your child care centre makes the grade.
