Food and Nutrition

Tiny Tots Childcare and Education Centre provides nutritious, well balanced meals, freshly cooked on the premises each day.  Morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea are provided.

The menu is displayed on the notice board in the foyer and on the kitchen bench, and the menu book is available for you to view.  It is designed to provide half (½) the recommended daily intake of nutrients.  Our menu is based on the guidelines for nutrition in childcare as outlined by the Department of Health (2009).  Multicultural dishes are also included on the menu.

Our cook has attended many nutrition courses and is our food safe advisor for all staff.  Parents, staff and friends’ suggestions are always welcome.  If you have a good recipe please share it with us.

If your child needs a special diet due to health, religion, or for other reasons, please advise the director.  The centre discourages your child from bringing their own food.

How do I get my child to eat veggies?

Make the meal look interesting.  Be creative, make the dinner into a face, stick man, anything you like.  Don’t put too much on the plate.  Talk to your child about the different textures and colours.

When should I introduce my child to solid foods?

The World Health Organisation recommends waiting until your baby is at least six months old, however, many children do start with baby cereals.  Before this, consult your health nurse or doctor if your child is unsettled, or speak to the qualified staff in the rooms.

Should I be giving my child low fat or non-fat versions of food?

Children under two years should be drinking full fat milk.  After two, it’s okay to use skim milk if you wish.  It is better to give your child a smaller portion of other foods rather than use the low fat versions.  Low fact versions often have additives to compensate for the reduction in taste.  This will teach the children good eating habits in the future.

Breakfast

Breakfast is not supplied at the centre.

All children are required to have had breakfast before arriving at the centre.  The following are the only exceptions:

• If your child is arriving before 7.00am, you can bring a healthy breakfast with your
  child (cereal, toast or yoghurt).
• After 7.00am, finger food such as toasts, crumpets and health bars are acceptable,
  but only in exceptional circumstances.

Babies are excluded from this policy as they will be fed by the staff as required.