2.1 Dietary Requirements and Healthy Eating Policy NQS: Quality Area 2

Policy Statement Westgarth Kindergarten encourages healthy eating and fosters the development of healthy eating habits in children. Procedures General • •

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Families are asked to provide a fruit or vegetable snack, lunchbox and drink bottle for their child each session. To reduce risks for allergy sufferers, we ask families and visitors to ensure that nuts or food products containing nuts and other known allergens are not to be brought into the kinder. This is clearly communicated to families in the kinder handbook and at orientation. Children have access to fresh drinking water throughout the day. Kindergarten staff respect cultural and/or personal food differences.

Morning fruit snack • • •

Morning tea comprises shared plates of the fruit and vegetable snacks provided by families. The fruit and vegetables are washed and cut up by families or staff each morning. Children are encouraged to broaden their food knowledge and sample a variety of fruit and vegetables e.g. unusual fruits, home grown vegetables, etc.

Lunch • • • •

Sharing of food at lunch is discouraged; children eat from their own lunchboxes. Staff talk about the choice to eat and children are given plenty of time to eat and may return to finish their lunch later in the day if hungry. Children are exposed to a number of eating styles and methods. For example, picnics on the ground, eating with cutlery or using serving utensils. During orientation, parents are advised about healthy lunchbox choices.

Other • •

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On occasion, cooking forms part of the program and the children prepare and eat food they have made themselves. Staff ensure this food is free of known allergens. On occasion, families may bring food into the kinder to share e.g. birthdays, cultural events, etc. Staff check for known allergens before offering the food to children. An alternative is often offered to children with allergies Staff monitor children with known food allergies closely and implement the procedures in the Incident, Injury, Trauma & Illness Policy and Anaphylaxis Policy as required. Staff educate children about healthy food and healthy eating habits. Where food is prepared in the kinder, staff and visitors observe the Hygiene and Food Safety Policy.

Monitoring & Evaluation ●

To assess whether the policy has achieved its purpose and whether amendments are required, the committee will: ○ Take into account feedback from staff and parents regarding the policy. ○ Monitor complaints and incidents concerning matters related to nutrition. ○ Periodically review this policy.

Policy 2.1 Dietary Requirements and Healthy Eating - endorsed Apr 2017.doc

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Links National Quality Standard – Quality Area 2, Standard 2.2 Education and Care Services National Regulations 2011, Part 4.2, Regulation 78 Education and Care Services National Law Act 2010, ELYF & VELYDF, Outcomes 1-5 Authorisation Endorsed by the Westgarth Kindergarten Committee of Management on 19 April 2017. Review Date This policy will be reviewed every two years and is next due for formal Committee review in 2019, unless deemed necessary earlier.

Policy 2.1 Dietary Requirements and Healthy Eating - endorsed Apr 2017.doc

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