Food allergy tips: dairy

Mealtime interactions

Sandwiches and veggies

OSHC menu reviews

2024 Food Safety Supervisor Courses

Recipes

Training Opportunities

Subscriber spotlight: We'd love to hear from you!

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Do you care for children who are allergic to cow's (dairy) milk? 

Dairy foods are an important source of protein, fat, calcium and other nutrients, important for children's growth and development. These foods must be avoided for children with an allergy to cow's milk, and suitable alternatives provided. Here are some tips for providing dairy alternatives:

• Alternative milks must be fortified with calcium (120mg/100mL).
• Soy milk is nutritionally most comparable to cows milk.
• Goats milk is not a suitable alternative as it contains a similar protein to cows milk.
• Some children with cow's milk allergy can tolerate small amounts of milk in baked foods like milk, cakes and biscuits. This must be confirmed with the family before these foods are offered.
• Soy yoghurt is a good alternative to cow's milk yoghurt, however for highly allergic children may not be suitable due to use of a milk based started. Check with families before a yoghurt alternative is offered.

How do you serve veggies on sandwich days?

Some children struggle having veggies on their sandwiches, whether it is because they don't like particular veggies or it makes it more difficult to eat. You may find that when serving sandwiches the ones with salad are less popular and end up being wasted, while sandwiches with softer filling like cheese or vegemite will be eaten much more readily.

If you struggle to find a way to include veggies on a day sandwiches are on your menu, try serving some on the side. Corn cobs are a popular side of veg as they are naturally sweet and can be picked up and eaten easily - just chop them in half or thirds. Other veggies could be a handful or cherry tomatoes (sliced in half for children aged under 3 years), carrot sticks or cucumber slices.

Have you had your menu reviewed recently?

Reviewing your OSHC menu and nutrition practices will support your centre to meet the National Quality Standards, but more importantly, ensure the children in your care are receiving nutritious foods for growing healthy minds and bodies.

Why review your menu?

Having your menu reviewed is a quality improvement activity where you will receive support from an experienced OSHC Dietitian to: 

• Improve provision of the five core food groups and reduce the amount of discretionary foods on your menu
• Support your centre to meet Smart Choices recommendations
• Get ideas for snacks, meals and simple recipe modifications
• Get more positive feedback from parents about your centre menu

What is included?

• A meeting with a Dietitian over the phone
• Review of a 4 week menu
• A comprehensive report with detailed assessment and recommendations
• Follow up phone support

Food Safety Supervisor Full Course Cost: $385 

This full-day face to face course is available to participants in early years, OSHC, aged care and disability settings and prepares food safety supervisors to supervise and oversee day to day operations and to prevent and recognise food safety hazards through nationally recognised training. 

Upon completion, students achieve a statement of attainment for the following units of competency:

• HLTFSE001: Follow basic food safety practices
• HLTFSE007: Oversee the day to day implementation of food safety in the workplace
• HLTFSE005: Apply and monitor food safety requirements

Upcoming full course dates:

Tuesday 19th March 2024  9am - 4pm
Newmarket - Grange Community Hall

Thursday 4th April 9am - 4pm 
Richlands - C.J. Greenfield Community Hall

If these options don’t suit, please don't hesitate to email us at training@naqld.org with your preferred date and time. We also offer private courses at suitable venues for a minimum of 8 people. We will try to accommodate your request if possible.

Food Safety Supervisor Recertification Course Cost: $290 

If you are due to renew your food safety supervisor certificate in light of the new five year requirements, we are offering many recertification courses in 2024 as enforcement commenced 8th December 2023. 

This 3-hour face to face recertification course is available to participants in early years, OSHC, aged care and disability settings that have previously obtained a food safety supervisor certificate. Please note: you will be required to provide a copy of your previous statement of attainment upon registration in order to confirm your booking. 

Upcoming recertification course dates:

Tuesday 26th March  9am - 12pm  OR  1pm - 4pm
Newmarket - Grange Community Hall

If these options don’t suit, please don't hesitate to email us at training@naqld.org with your preferred date and time. We also offer private courses at suitable venues for a minimum of 8 people. We will try to accommodate your request if possible.

This month we have two delicious recipes to share:
Falafels that are great for morning tea or a lunchbox snack, and our apple berry crumble, a delicious morning or afternoon tea. 

Please feel free to share these recipes with families.

Do you have a story that you would like to share with us? 

We would love to hear from subscribers and share some of your stories within our Nutrition in OSHC eNewsletter. Feel free to send us an email with your story along with some photos to share! 

For example, this could be a story about:
- Cooking experiences with children across the term or during vacation care
- Harvesting your vegetable or herb garden 
- Favourite recipes at your service 
- New menu items that promote healthy eating
- Upgrading your service's kitchen or dining space
- Your recent NQS assessment and rating score

Online Training 

We offer a suite of online training programs through our partner In Safe Hands. Click on the following buttons for more information and to register.

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.