Food, Nutrition and Safe Eating Supervision Policy

Rationale

We endeavor to provide food and drink at appropriate times and in such variety, quantity and quality, as to meet the nutritional and developmental needs of each child.

Objectives:

• To provide a safe physical environment whilst eating.
• To provide nutritious food which falls within the low choking risk to our children.
• To offer our children, who have lunch provided by the centre, with at least 50% of the daily-recommended number of servings from each of the four major food groups in the form of nutritious and appetizing foods. Snacks provided by the Centre will compliment these lunches within the food and beverage classification guidance system.
• To educate tamariki about food and nutrition and food safety and its role in achieving and maintaining health.
• To provide children with food that has been stored, prepared and served safely and hygienically.
• To provide an eating environment that promotes family and multicultural values – whanau will have the opportunity to consult and provide feedback over our menus.
• To ensure children’s safety when consuming food and drinks.’
• In ensure that our paper work aligns to the licensing criteria and that all Kaiako and cooks are aware of the expectations around this.

Procedure:

• All high-risk foods as stated on page 3 of our policy will be excluded from our menus.
• Kaiako will sit with children and supervise their eating at all times during kai time.
• Menus will be designed to include at least 50% of the recommended number of serves from each food group for those children who are provided with lunch. Snacks in the form of morning and afternoon tea, or late snack will contribute to this.
• Children will have access to fruit at both morning and afternoon tea, and water at all times during the day – ref to our “Fresh Water Policy”
• Lunches will contain something from each of the four major food groups (cereals, fruit and vegetables, milk/milk products, meat/meat alternatives).
• Caregivers /whanau will be asked not to send chocolate, lollies, soft drink, chips or high-risk foods to childcare as forms as celebrations.
• Our centre has a Celebration specific Procedure to follow.
• Snacks will be nutritious and include milk products, fresh fruit, vegetables, pikelets, scones, muffins, fruit cake, breads,
  Activities focusing on food, nutrition, health and food safety will be incorporated into the Centre programme.
• Menus will be kept for 3 months and any changes to the daily menu ( ie bananas planned for morning tea but changed to banana loaf, specific fruit items) will be documented
• We will provide recipes for each item that is cooked on site

Promoting family, safety and multicultural values, we will:

• Staff will role model healthy eating practices whilst sitting with the children
• Withholding of food or water, will not be used as a form of punishment.
• Consideration will be given to ethnic/religious dietary customs/beliefs when constructing the Centre’s menu.

At Kai Time we will promote the following safety precautions and regulatory requirements:

• Babies and children will be supervised and seated at kai times.
• Children will sit where their weight is supported by their buttocks as opposed to their feet.
• We will ensure there is a designated time and place where children sit down to eat
• We will encourage children to sit up straight when they are eating, children are not permitted to walk, run or play while eating.
• Children will be encouraged to talk to each other only when their mouths are empty from food
• Food will be placed directly in front of children to prevent them twisting and losing control of food in their mouths.
• A Food Allergy chart will be posted in the kitchen and updated as necessary.
• No child will have access to any food or fluid i.e. bottles, while in bed (or any other sleeping place).
• Infants under the age of 6 months and other children unable to drink independently are held semi-upright when being fed.