Griffith Central Preschool Nutrition
Griffith Central Preschool Nutrition
Nutrition is essential for good health and growth of young children. It is the role of this Preschool to encourage children to develop appropriate habits for food preference. This can only be achieved if the child is exposed to a variety of foods.
Meal and snack times should be pleasant social occasions. Allowing the child to mix freely and to eat as needed. Recognition of the nutritional requirements of all children is important, and this should be reflected in planning menus and also how and when children eat.
With this in mind, we ask that parents provide food that is nutritious and meets with current expectations for what is appropriate for young children.
What food to pack?
The following table of types of food is recommended by NSW Dept of Health in their Early Childhood Munch and Move program.
We ask that only Water is provided as a drink, so please provide a Water Bottle with your child’ s name clearly marked on the bottle.
Provide a food from each of the 5 food groups is included:
Do not provide any of the foods on the NOT okay list.
Further information can be obtained on healthy foods from the following
https:// www. eatforhealth. gov. au
Keeping food fresh and safe
Before preparing your child’ s lunch box, always wash your hands well with warm soapy water and make sure all chopping boards and utensils are clean and dry.
Any lunch box containing meat, fish, chicken, eggs, noodles, rice, pasta, custard, yoghurt, cheese or milk needs to be kept cold to stop harmful bacteria multiplying, otherwise your child may become sick.
If you make your child’ s lunch the night before, keep it in the fridge( below 5 ° C) overnight.
Waxed paper can be a better option for wrapping than plastic, as it’ s easier for children to manage( and less polluting).
Please send a water Bottle – just water.
NO Juice or Cordials please.
Allergies: We ask that children Not bring in any food that may contain traces of Peanut Butter or peanuts. We ask that children DO NOT bring in peanut butter sandwiches.
Children’ s own water bottles are accessible throughout the day.
Children’ s Lunch boxes should be clearly labelled and can be placed into the refrigerator located in the hallway outside your child’ s playroom.
Nutrition: Allergies
Parents are asked to bring in any special dietary foods that the child may need.
Parents are asked to advise the staff of any specific food allergies. Preschool maintains a list of children with allergies for staff to be aware of any child’ s dietary restrictions.
Foods that are okay to provide Foods that are NOT okay.( high in sugars)
Breads and cereals( e. g. bread, wraps, rice, pasta, noodles, crackers, pikelets, muffins)
Meat and meat alternatives( e. g. beef, chicken, fish, chickpeas, lentils, eggs, tofu)
Dairy foods( milk, cheese, yoghurt)
Potato crisps, Cakes, muesli bars, and sweet biscuits Pastries( e. g. pies, sausage rolls)
Fast food and takeaway meals
Fruit‘ roll-ups’, lollies and chocolate bars Fruit( fresh, frozen, canned in natural juice, dried) Fatty meats( e. g. sausages, salami) Raw or cooked vegetables( fresh, frozen, canned)
Soft drinks, cordial, fruit juice, juice drinks, sports drinks and flavoured milks
______________________________________________________________________________________________________ Handbook for Parents Griffith Child Care Centre Inc 14