Healthy curriculum activities
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.
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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