Healthy eating policy
WE ARE A NUT AWARE KINDERGARTEN
We encourage healthy eating at McKellar Stewart Kindergarten so children will grow up with a sound knowledge of good nutrition and diet.
We implement this policy strictly by strongly discourage children to eat unhealthy food. Please support us by ensuring your child comes to kindergarten with a piece of fruit or a healthy alternative.
Snack time is part of every morning and afternoon session at McKellar Stewart Kindergarten. Parents and carers are asked to provide only healthy food for the following reasons:
- To provide children with important vitamins and minerals.
- To encourage a taste for healthy foods and promote healthy eating habits.
- To avoid children pressuring parents and carers to buy and provide other less healthy foods they may see other children having!
- Research informs us that for the long-term health and well being of children, it is vital that they eat healthy food from birth.
- To support this the McKellar Stewart Kindergarten expects that families will send nutritious snacks to kindergarten with their children.
- Snacks are the food that children eat before and after lunch.
- Nutritious means the foods will be low in sugar, salt and fat and have nutritional value for the child.
Food we recommend include:
| Fresh Fruits |
Dry Biscuits |
Foods we DO NOT recommend include:
| Nuts |
Cakes |
Note: Foods high in sugar eaten regularly across the day will cause tooth decay and have little nutritional value.
Drinks
Water Only. Please DO NOT send fruit juice or cordial; they are high in sugar and when spilt attract ants. A named plastic cup is all that is required for children to have a drink. Fresh water is always available. Fruit juice and cordial will not be allowed during kindergarten sessions and water bottles are not necessary.
Food guidelines for special occasions
At McKellar Stewart Kindergarten children have a healthy snack everyday that is regularly supplemented with cooking activities and 'treats'. We want children to learn that if we have regular healthy eating habits, the occasional treat is OK.
Children's birthdays are celebrated with "Happy Birthday" song and a card. Please do not send birthday cakes or other birthday food treats to kindergarten.
Guidelines for children on special diets
Children who have a food allergy to either nuts, egg, milk, wheat, fish or soy protein must not come into contact with the food they are allergic to. For this reason we strongly discourage nuts, nut products, chocolate products, cakes, buns, or sweet biscuits.
If your child is on a special diet for some other reason, please inform staff if this has any implications for Snack Time (or lunch time, if applicable).
Guidelines for lunch time care
Parents and carers of children who are at McKellar Stewart Kindergarten for lunch time care are encouraged to pack healthy lunches.
As lunchtime is a social event for the children, they enjoy eating together and "comparing" lunch boxes. Children will quite happily eat healthy food, but will often choose less healthy food if they are given the choice. Healthy eating habits are easier to model if all children are doing the same thing. Foods high in fat, sugar and salt are discouraged as everyday foods.
WE WOULD APPRECIATE YOUR COOPERATION AND SUPPORT IN IMPLEMENTING THIS POLICY THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE KINDERGARTEN.
Note: It can be hard to find healthy delicious food for your children's snack boxes. If you are stuck for ideas, we have some great recipes.