Why Children’s Nutrition Matters

Nutrition plays a critical role in supporting children’s growth, learning and development. Nutritious food and balanced meals fuel children for active play, concentration and participation throughout the day. Proper nutrition promotes brain development, strong bones and muscles, immunity, emotional control and consistent physical development during the early years of life (NHMRC, 2013).

Positive foundations in healthy eating can create life-long habits. Children practice enjoying nutritious foods and trying new flavours while expanding self-help skills at mealtimes in early childhood environments. Eating together and having positive mealtime routines can also foster social skills, confidence and feeling of belonging (Marotz, 2019; Sorte et al., 2014).

(Dairy Council of California, 2026)

(Devex, 2026)

On This Page

Dietary Guidelines

The Australian Dietary Guidelines support healthy eating in the early years. They encourage a variety of foods from the five food groups, regular water intake and limiting foods high in sugar, salt and saturated fat

Basic Food Concepts

Food Preparation and Safety

Children benefit from learning simple food concepts such as naming foods, understanding where food comes from and exploring different tastes, colours and textures. These experiences build early nutrition knowledge.

Safe food practices help protect children from illness. This includes handwashing, clean surfaces, safe storage and awareness of allergies or dietary needs.

Laws and frameworks Guiding Nutrition of Children

In NQS Quality Area 2 – Children’s Health and Safety we recognise nutrition as vital to children's health, growth and wellbeing. QA2.1 sets out that services promote healthy eating practices and provide nutritious food and drinks that meet children's needs and meet recognised dietary guidelines. Educators role model and encourage positive mealtimes, habits around food, access to water and respond appropriately to allergies, medical needs and cultural dietary practices. These strategies support lifelong health and wellbeing (ACECQA, 2018).

National Quality Standard (Quality Area 2)

Get up and Grow

Australian Dietary Guidelines

Caring for Children – Birth to 5 years (Food, Nutrition and Learning Experiences

Get Up & Grow is an Australian Government guide that encourages families, educators and early childhood services to instil healthy eating, physical activity and wellbeing practices in children birth to five years old. Get Up & Grow offers practical strategies for nutrition, physical activity, mealtimes and healthy routines children can learn to maintain lifelong habits. (Australian Government Department of Health, 2021)

Within an early childhood environment, Get Up & Grow can be used to plan healthy meals and snacks, foster positive food habits and environments, encourage movement and collaborate with children’s families. These healthy practices relate to Quality Area 2 and promote children’s health and wellbeing (ACECQA, 2018).

The Australian Dietary Guidelines offer evidence-based advice for healthy eating, emphasizing a variety of nutritious foods from the five food groups, regular water intake, and limiting foods high in saturated fat, sugar, and salt. For children, they recommend regular meals, appropriate portion sizes, and daily physical activity.

In early childhood settings, these guidelines assist educators in planning balanced menus and fostering positive mealtime experiences to instill lifelong healthy habits. Adopting healthy eating patterns early on supports better long-term health outcomes (Australian Government, 2019)

Learning from the Heart created the resource "Caring for Children – Birth to 5 Years (Food, Nutrition and Learning Experiences)" to assist educators in fostering healthy nutrition and growth in young children. It emphasizes balanced meals, safe food practices, positive mealtime routines, and appropriate nutrition education for children from birth to five years.

The resource guides educators on promoting healthy eating by creating supportive environments, encouraging healthy habits, involving children in food experiences, and addressing individual developmental needs. It also links nutrition to the wellbeing, participation, and learning of young children (NSW Health, 2014).

Teaching Nutrition to Infants

0-2 Years

(Shimajiro Channel, 2026)

(Bebefinn - Nursery Rhymes & Kids Songs, 2026)

Teaching Nutrition to Toddlers

2-3 Years

(Healthy Eating Advisory Service, 2026)

(CASS, 2026)

Teaching Nutrition to Pre-Schoolers

3-5 Years

(Healthy Eating Advisory Service, 2026)

(School, 2018)