In This Issue

Lunchbox Week 2025

Subscriber offer for staff workshops

Finger food meal ideas

Body Blocks

Save $ with legumes and lentils

FREE professional development for OSHC staff

2024 Food Safety Supervisor Courses

Recipes

Training Opportunities

Access links

Our annual campaign provides practical tips, recipes and ideas to help make lunchboxes enjoyable, nourishing and pressure free for both families and educators. 

Help spread the word!

We have created a suite of specially developed resources for your setting to help spread our key messages during National Lunchbox Week. Download your 2025 National Lunchbox Week Communication Toolkit to find out more. 

Join the conversation on social media using the hashtag  #NationalLunchboxWeek. 

You can download factsheets and recipes from the Lunchbox Week Website. Click on the links below for a few examples of factsheets.

Subscriber offer for staff workshops

For staff PD bookings made this February, we are offering all Food Foundations subscribers the following rates for virtual workshops:

Safe Food Handling in OSHC - $290+GST (Usually $400+GST) 
This workshop meets the requirements of Standard 3.2.2A Food Safety Management Tools and covers all the necessary food safety requirements needed for food handlers under the new standard.

Food, Nutrition and Positive Mealtimes in OSHC - $290+GST (Usually $400+GST) 
This workshop covers food and nutrition goals for OSHC services in line with requirements of the National Quality Framework, and strategies for making mealtimes relaxed, encouraging intuitive eating and positive food language.

Workshops booked in February can be delivered anytime up to the end of April 2025.

Workshops run for 1hr duration, are delivered virtually on Zoom or Microsoft Teams; are open to all staff at your centre, and all staff will receive a certificate of attendance.

Click on the button below to request a booking for one of these workshops.

Finger food meal ideas

Foods we can eat with our hands can be interactive and fun to assemble, colourful and delicious. They are a great option for picnic style meals, cooking experiences, and can reduce washing up as well! Here are some our favourite meal ideas that are easy for children to eat with their hands. 

Body Blocks

Have you heard of Body Blocks by Embrace Kids? It is a groundbreaking new program for educators of young children that aims to prevent body image issues in young people by getting in early with messages of body appreciation.

Body Blocks draws on evidence-based practices and expert input to address the unique needs of children aged 0 to 8. Research shows that children aged 3-5 have already internalised ideas about bodies and appearance. It’s a concerning thought given that children who are worried about their bodies at this early age are more likely to engage in disordered eating or have mental health issues later in life. This program empowers young children to develop positive relationships with food, movement and their bodies from the very beginning of their lives.

What is included in the FREE program

• Seven short self-paced online professional learning video modules
• A video of 2023 Australian of the Year Taryn Brumfitt reading her children’s  book, Embrace Your Body
• A digital version of the “Embrace” song by Pevan & Sarah feat. Taryn Brumfitt
• Body Blocks resource pack

Save $ with legumes and lentils

When looking for ways to manage your food budget, legumes and lentils are a cheap and nutritious addition to meals and snacks.

Canned legumes/lentils currently cost $2.60 per kg (60c per serve*), while dried lentils are $4.80 per kg (25c per serve*), compared to chicken which is $11 per kg ($1.10 per serve*) and lean mince which is $15.50 per kg ($1.55 per serve*). 

Here are some ways you can add legumes and lentils into your menu:

• Substitute in some red lentils to curries, bolognaise, lasagnes, or bakes. E.g. If you are preparing a bolognaise for 100 children you might typically use 6kg of lean mince (~$90). Instead, use 5kg of lean mince, and 500g of dried red lentils (~$77). 
• Serve baked beans on toast as a snack
• If time allows, make your own dip with a can of chickpeas or cannelloni beans
• Blend cannellini beans or chickpeas into soups

*Serve sizes are AGHE serves of 150 legumes/lentils, and 100g meat and chicken. Prices listed are based on the cheapest products currently available at Coles and Woolworths. 

FREE professional development for OSHC staff

Menu Planning in OSHC Workshop

This virtual workshop will provide ideas for creating menus with nourishing snacks and meals, and managing dietary requirements of children attending OSHC. Up to 2 staff from your service who are involved in menu planning and preparing food are invited to join - cooks and chefs, educators and directors. 

Click on the dates below to find out more and register for workshops

2025 Food Safety Supervisor Courses

We offer Food Safety Supervisor training for those working in early years, OSHC, aged care and disability settings. This practical course enables you to complete all assessment on the day, and is delivered by our team of experienced trainers who work within community settings. The course prepares food safety supervisors to supervise and oversee day to day operations and to prevent and recognise food safety hazards in their workplace through nationally recognised training. 

Live Virtual Course Cost: $385 

We are currently offering a live virtual Food Safety Supervisor course! Click on the button below to register and find out more about what the requirements are for completing this course virtually. We are excited to have you join us from anywhere across Queensland! Upcoming courses available:

Tuesday 11th February  9am - 4pm
Tuesday 25th February  9am-4pm
Tuesday 11th March  9am-4pm

If these options don’t suit, please don't hesitate to email us at training@naqld.org with your preferred date and time. We will try to accommodate your request if possible.

We also offer private courses delivered at your workplace for a minimum of 6 people ($385 per person). Please phone or email us to find out more. 

Recipes

To celebrate lunchbox week, we are sharing some of our favourite recipes from the National Lunchbox Week website! Share these with families, or scale recipe up to prepare at your service. Click on the buttons to download the recipes. 

Training opportunities

Online Training 

We offer self-paced online training programs through our partner In Safe Hands. Click on the following buttons for more information and to register.

Level 1 - Safe Food Handling for OSHC Settings

Advanced - Safe Food Handling for OSHC Settings - coming soon

Positive Mealtimes and Nutrition Requirements for OSHC Educators - coming soon

Access links

Once logged in to the subscriber section of our website, access the following:

Do you have a question for the Nutrition in OSHC team?

Feel free to give us a call (07 3257 4393) or email through your questions to oshc@naqld.org

Nutrition Australia acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of the land we work on and pays respect to Elders past, present and emerging.