Nutritional Policy 

Rationale: Bright Beginnings will promote children’s health and nutrition by providing a balanced menu.

Objectives: To ensure that all children understand the connection between healthy food and having a healthy body. To help children develop healthy eating habits.

Policy and recommended procedure:

• Bright Beginnings will provide three meals – morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea – each day, which will take the form of a four-week rotational menu and will include:

• Both cooked and raw foods, hot meals and sandwiches
• A wide variety of healthy foods and choices
• 5+ a day – a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables each day
• Meals that meet government nutritional guidelines
• Meals that are nutritionally balanced and incorporate essential food groups
• Foods that are mainly homemade and/or baked on the premises
• The use of some wholegrain food products
• Foods that are purchased fresh each week
• Children with special dietary needs (allergies, children whose families are vegetarian/from different cultures) will be catered for.
• Bright Beginnings will provide pureed foods for infants and will slowly introduce textured foods according to their developmental capabilities
• Children will have access to a water fountain that is filtered against toxins and bacteria such as giardia
• Bright Beginnings staff will be good role models to children and will not consume inappropriate food or drink in the view of children
• Teachers will include nutritional education in the centre’s program each week
• Bright Beginnings will not use sugary foods such as chocolate or lollies in centre fundraisers
• Bright Beginnings will employ a cook to prepare and serve meals, supervise children at meal times, and assist in nutritional education. They will also be responsible for purchasing food items and for upholding and maintaining hygiene standards in the regard to the preparation of food and the kitchen area
• Parent Education will be encouraged, and may include visits or information sharing from nutritionists or agencies such as the Heart Foundation.
• Bright Beginnings staff will be encouraged to attend professional development courses that relate to nutrition and health
• Bottles and other food that require heating/refrigeration will be kept in the refrigerator
• Children under the age of six months will be held while being fed, and will not be fed infant formula unless approved by a parent/caregiver
• Bright Beginnings supports breast feeding and mothers will be encouraged to store milk (frozen or fresh) in the fridge. Bright Beginnings will ensure there are quiet spaces for mothers to feed in centre at any time
• No child will be left unattended while eating, and no child will have access to fluid while in bed (or any other sleeping or resting place)
• On special occasions such as birthdays or a child’s farewell, parents/whaanau may bring a treat to share at a mealtime.