Healthy curriculum activities

Early childhood services

The National Quality Framework recommends that early childhood education and care services support all aspects of children’s health, ensuring that they are teaching children that healthy lifestyles underpin everyday routines and experiences.

Young girl playing with plastic fruit toys

This includes having discussions and planning activities about healthy eating into everyday experiences so the children are encouraged to make healthy food and drinks choices.

By integrating healthy eating principles into your child care service’s programming and displayed resources, you will be working towards meeting Quality Area 2 (Healthy Lifestyle) and the requirements of the Exceeding themes.

Cooking with kids

Cooking with children is an excellent way to help them learn about healthy foods. There are many recipes that children can help you prepare.

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Introducing new foods to children

While ‘fussy eating’ or refusing foods is normal for children, it can be frustrating for cooks and educators when trying to introduce new foods to the menu. There are lots of ways you can address this issue and everyone in your service has a role to play.

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Child cutting plastic fruit toys with plastic knife

Taste the rainbow

This is a rainbow-themed series of activities that involve reading, cooking, and tasting vegetables in different colours. It is aimed at 2-4 year olds, but you can tailor the activities to suit the children in your care, and the equipment you have on hand.

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Healthy eating games and activities

Using games and activities is a great way to help children learn about healthy eating while having fun at the same time! The ideas below can be used to engage children in healthy eating experiences, teach them to recognise different foods and encourage them to experiment with new foods, tastes, flavours and textures.

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Plastic vegetable toys on table

VegKIT Taste & Learn for Early Years

Taste & Learn™ for Early Years is an evidence-based program designed to provide educators with lesson plans and activities to foster vegetable enjoyment in children in Long Day Care by undertaking curriculum aligned activities.

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For more information please phone 1300 22 52 88 or email heas@nutritionaustralia.org.au

Except where otherwise indicated, the images in this document show models and illustrative settings only, and do not necessarily depict actual services, facilities or recipients of services. This document may contain images of deceased Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. In this document, ‘Aboriginal’ refers to both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. ‘Indigenous’ or ‘Koori/Koorie’ is retained when part of the title of a report, program or quotation. Copyright © State of Victoria 2016

Written and reviewed by dietitians and nutritionists at Nutrition Australia, with support from the Victorian Government.

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