In March, Whyalla’s Council owned Child Care Centre received a Start Right, Eat Right Award from the South Australian Department of Health. The new state wide award recognises childcare centres that provide healthy meals and varied foods, as well as trained staff who promote good eating habits.
Council’s Group Manager Corporate Services, Migelle Hiscock, said that to qualify for the Award, menus must provide at least half a child’s daily recommended nutrition intake and the eating environment must support healthy, tasty and safe food.
“The centre’s Cook and Director underwent two days of training, helping staff to provide food that enhances growing children and ensuring the centre has the most up date information on child nutrition,” Migelle Hiscock said. “All staff also undertook training in food hygiene and safety, which along with food practices at the centre, were audited by a local nutritionist and Council’s Environmental Health Officer.”
The Whyalla Child Care Centre now has a six week menu, including meals for morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea.
Migelle Hiscock said the initiative is great way of targeting poor eating habits that can lead to weight problems in adults.
“Many illnesses in adulthood, such as heart disease, some cancers and osteoporosis, have their beginnings in childhood because of what people eat,” she said. “Encouraging children to eat a wide variety of food, in a positive, safe eating environment leads to good eating habits for life.”
As part of the Start Right Eat Right Program, children are now involved in serving their own meals and choosing their own serving sizes.
Migelle Hiscock said the centre has also developed a vegetable garden.
“Staff and children weed, plant, water, pick and prepare the vegetables, which really makes a difference to the children’s enthusiasm towards healthy eating,” she said. “Not only is more food now consumed at the centre, but the children are learning about nutrition and healthy eating practices. Parents have also become more interested and involved in menu planning.”
The centre was awarded with a State Government endorsed sign, recognising the facility as a Start Right, Eat Right Centre, along with a mention in a full page advertisement in the Adelaide Advertiser that listed recognised centres.
