Dietary Guidelines

The Australian Dietary Guidelines provide evidence-based recommendations to support healthy eating and drinking for children.

• Offer a variety of foods from each of the five food groups.

• Make water “the drink” most of the time.

• Limit consumption of discretionary foods (high in saturated fat, added salt and/or added sugar).

• Serve the right amount (portion size) for children’s age and activity levels.

• Encourage eating meals and planned snacks at regular times.

• Be active every day.

(National Health and Medical Research Council, 2020)

Overview of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating

(Service, 2016)

HealthWorks! Healthy Living Series: Portions | Cincinnati Children's

(Cincinnati Children's, 2019)

Healthy Hydration: Helping Kids Choose Water | American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)

(American Academy of Pediatrics, 2021)

Basic Food Concepts

Understanding basic food concepts helps children develop positive attitudes and healthy eating habits.

• Eat a variety of foods most days.

• Try to achieve balance by choosing from the five food groups every day.

• Moderation – eat the healthier foods most of the time and treat foods sometimes.

• Enjoy your food! Food is pleasurable and important for social interactions and cultural traditions.

• Listen to your body’s hunger and fullness signals

• Encourage children to participate in food shopping/cooking and decision-making

  (Australian Government, 2019; National Health and Medical Research Council, 2022)

Incorporating Healthy Meals into a Childcare Center

(CWRU PRCHN, 2017)

1 5 6 VIDEO 1 3 THE AUSTRALIAN GUIDE TO HEALTHY EATING

(Royal Flying Doctor Service of Australia, 2019)

Healthy Eating in Childcare: Advice and Challenges

(CWRU PRCHN, 2017a)

Food Preparation and Safety

Safe food handling and preparation practices help prevent foodborne illness and keep children healthy.

• Always wash hands thoroughly with soap and water before handling food.

• Keep bench tops, chopping boards, utensils and equipment clean. Use a sanitiser to reduce bacteria after cleaning.

• Separate raw meat from cooked food. Store raw meat in sealed containers on the bottom shelf of the fridge.

• Cook foods thoroughly (to appropriate temperatures) and keep hot foods hot (> 60°C) and cold foods cold (< 5°C).

• Store perishable foods correctly and don’t forget to check use-by dates.

• Maintain good food hygiene practices from start to finish.

  (FSANZ, 2025; NSW Health, 2022)
  

Food labels: Storage and preparation

(NSWFoodAuthority, 2023)

Food Service Requirements for Child Care Centers

(CDSS CCLD Childcare Videos, 2021)

Leap Start Early Learning Child Care - Kitchen & Laundry

(Leap Start Early Learning Child Care, 2017)