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Mini Professional Development 4: Nutrition in early childhood

Early childhood services

Support the cooks in your cooks network by including professional development sessions. Our expert team have pulled together all the resources you need to present a session on nutrition in early childhood. 

Co-designed by expert health promoters, for health promoters just like you. This package will help you to host a professional development session for your cooks network. 

What is included?

The purpose of this resource is to provide you with all the expertise you need to facilitate a professional development session on Nutrition in early childhood within your cooks network. We have developed all the tools you will need, including; 

  • Guided activities and worksheets 
  • Discussion prompts and FAQs 
  • Editable certificate of completion 
  • Video on five main food groups 
  • Instructional PowerPoint presentation with accompanying speaking notes

Key learning outcomes:

  • Understand the importance of nutrition in early childhood and its role in supporting healthy growth and development. 
  • Identify how different nutrients contribute to children’s physical, cognitive, and emotional development. 
  • Apply practical strategies for menu planning and cooking to support a balanced and nutritious diet in early childhood settings. 
  • Understand the Eat the Rainbow approach and use it to encourage dietary variety and adequate nutritional intake. 
  • Recognise the five main food groups and incorporate them effectively into a long day care menu. 

Additional resources

PowerPoint slides (13MB)

For more information please phone 1300 22 52 88 or email heas@nnf.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 National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government.

Featured recipes

Explore all recipes
Early childhood services OSHC Main meal +2
Magarina firinda (Cypriot beef pasta bake)
NF LF FS EF DF
Early childhood services OSHC Modification available +1
Malaysian fish curry
NF LF GF EF DF
Early childhood services OSHC Modification available +1
Chicken Picadillo
NF LF GF FS EF DF
Early childhood services OSHC Main meal +1
Warrigal greens pesto spaghetti
NF LF FS EF DF VG +1
Early childhood services OSHC Main meal +1
Tofu Larb
DF VG V NF LF FS +1
Early childhood services OSHC Modification available +1
Nasi Goreng
VG V NF LF FS DF

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The Healthy Eating Advisory Service acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the land on which we operate. We pay our respects to them, their culture and their Elders past and present.

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The Healthy Eating Advisory Service is delivered by experienced nutritionists and dietitians at National Nutrition Foundation, with support from the Victorian Government.

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