Working towards a national approach to healthy eating in childcare
October 13, 2020
Young Australian children may not be getting the right balance of healthy food at a critical stage of their growth and development. In response to this concern, experts from the National Nutrition Network – Early Childhood Education and Care (NNN-ECEC) have called for national consistency in food provision at Australian childcare centres.
Few young children in Australia eat the recommended amount of vegetables each day, and almost a third of the total energy intake in this age group is from discretionary foods
A recent joint study reviewed childcare menu guidelines in all states and territories and looked at how these aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines. The project was a collaboration between researchers from Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Nutrition Australia Victoria, Edith Cowan University, Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and Flinders University. The study found that not all menu guidelines aligned with the Australian Dietary Guidelines, especially in their recommendations for vegetables and discretionary foods.
While there were many similarities between menu guidelines and national dietary guidelines, including recommendations for grains and dairy foods, there was inconsistency in two key areas. The recommendation for vegetables did not align with Australian Dietary Guidelines in four states and territories and only three states or territories recommended not feeding children discretionary foods.
This is very concerning, as few young children in Australia eat the recommended amount of vegetables each day, and almost a third of the total energy intake in this age group is from discretionary foods that are high in kilojoules, saturated fat and added sugars or salt.
With two-thirds of one to four-year olds attending some form of childcare, it is a vitally important service, and has a key role in supporting the health, eating and food habits of Australian children. The authors advocate that national menu guidelines would allow for more consistent and cost-effective support and resources to services in the sector. Australian childcare has a national accrediting body (ACECQA), and the NNN-ECEC looks forward to collaborating with and supporting ACECQA in nutrition promotion in this sector.
As a component of the partnership between Nutrition Australia and Deakin’s School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences, Dr Alison Spence was a Researcher in Residence at Nutrition Australia while leading this work. Additionally, Deakin Masters of Dietetics students undertook placement based at Nutrition Australia Victoria to contribute to data collection. Dr Spence says “It’s fantastic to have a partnership with opportunities to connect researchers, practitioners and students, and to collaborate on relevant and impactful projects.”
Nutrition Australia’s Margaret Rozman said the Researcher in Residence program had been a great opportunity to bridge the gap between research and intervention. ‘Having direct access to a Deakin University nutrition researcher enabled us to explore publication opportunities, and progress work on nutrition in early childhood,’ she said
Dr Alison Spence and Dr Penny Love are senior lecturers at the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences and Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition, Deakin University. Amy Wakem is the Education Coordinator at the Healthy Eating Advisory Service and co-author of this study. Margaret Rozman is the Program Manager of the Healthy Eating Advisory Service and also a member of the NNN-ECEC.A full version of findings from this study can be found here.
Click here for more information about Deakin IPAN’s research into physical activity and nutrition or follow us on Twitter @DeakinIPAN