No images? Click here In This Issue FOOD FOUNDATIONS MAY NEWSLETTER Nutrition Australia Queensland Announcement! Get Up and Grow Guidelines Staying healthy during flu and cold season Filling up with nutritious food in the winter months Different categories of vegetables Why is zinc good for us? Planning in advance for fussy eaters Recipes Events and Training Healthy at Home E-Newsletter Accessing previous Food Foundations e-newsletters Nutrition Australia Queensland Announcement! To our valued Food Foundations Subscribers, We would like to update you on some exciting staffing changes as well as announce that our current CEO Sharyn Deam is retiring from Nutrition Australia Qld (NAQ). We would like to thank Sharyn for her dedication and contribution to NAQ for over 23 years. “NAQ has a long history within the Qld community, from preventative health initiatives, to our tailored and expert education and training services. I am confident in the new NAQ leadership team and wish NAQ the very best for the future.” We are delighted to announce Kirsty Elliott as our new CEO. Kirsty brings to the position 20 years of experience in nutrition, health and strategic leadership across government and non-government organisations and knows the Qld landscape well. This is a very exciting step for NAQ. “I am thrilled to be joining the dedicated and passionate NAQ team. I look forward to leading the team and continuing to deliver high-quality nutrition and food safety education and training across settings including early childhood education and care, workplaces and aged care. This includes supporting organisations required to meet government nutrition and food safety standards and policies.” Additionally, we would like to share that Nicole Bentley is moving from her role as Nutrition Manager to NAQ’s RTO and online training division, which is an area she is passionate about. Nicole has been a dedicated member of the NAQ team, with over 15 years experience working across all areas of the organisation. We would like to welcome Accredited Practising Dietitian and NAQ team member Margo Montgomerie to the role of Nutrition Manager. Margo has experience working with multicultural populations, and within early years, schools and aged care settings. As a previous childcare centre cook, Margo brings to the position a wealth of expertise and practical understanding of food and nutrition within the early years industry, which is unique and exciting. We are delighted to announce these staffing changes and look forward to strengthening our relationship with you and your organisation. We invite you to contact Kirsty and Margo at: Kirsty Elliott (kelliott@naqld.org) and Margo Montgomerie (mmontgomerie@naqld.org) Kind regards Mikael Wedemeyer Chairperson Nutrition Australia Qld Get Up and Grow Guidelines Element 2.1.3 - Health lifestyle – Healthy eating and physical activity are promoted and appropriate for each child. The Get Up and Grow program is an evidenced-based initiative of the Australian Government to support healthy eating and physical activity in early childhood settings such as centre-based care, family daycare and preschools. The Healthy Eating and Physical Activity for Early Childhood Guidelines aim to lay the foundations for lifelong health and well-being through nutritious food and regular physical activity. To support normal growth and development in children and reduce the risk of chronic diseases in later life. Resources available for educators focus on three key national health documents: Infant Feeding Guidelines (2012) The staff and carers handbook covers a range of topics including breastfeeding, infant formula, introducing solids, family foods and food safety. In particular, this handbook provides recommendations for educators on the safe handling of breast milk and formula. These include sanitising and sterilising infant bottles and the correct labelling of expressed breast milk procedures. Other helpful information for staff includes foods identified as choking risks for babies and the importance of following the special needs of individual children. Physical activity and exercise guidelines for infants and preschoolers Being active is essential for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers (birth to 5 years) for babies and young children to grow healthy and set good habits for life. Evidenced-based guidelines produced by the Australian Government outline the amount of activity small children should do each day, depending on age. In addition, why sitting time and screen time be limited and the importance of getting enough sleep. As young children grow and develop, they should work towards:
The Australian Dietary Guidelines The Australia Dietary Guidelines provide advice on the amounts and types of foods that we should consume every day, in each life stage, for good health and to reduce our risk of disease. Including choosing whole foods or minimally processed foods. And which foods in the five foods groups are considered 'core' foods as they should make up the core of your diet. Also, explaining discretionary foods and drinks that do not fit into the five core food groups, so their intake should be limited. The Australian Dietary Guidelines also allow for religious and cultural practices to be followed, but childcare providers may need to discuss a child's needs with families. Staying healthy during flu and cold season Element 2.1.3 - Health practices and procedures – Effective illness and injury management and hygiene practices are promoted and implemented. The National Health and Medical Research Council's Staying Healthy: Preventing infectious diseases in early childhood education and care services guidelines provide care services and staff with simple strategies for limiting and controlling infectious diseases such as colds and flu. The guidelines cover the following main six areas:
Remember: cover your cough and sneeze to stop the spread of germs. The correct way to prevent the spread of germs that are carried in droplets is by coughing or sneezing into your inner elbow or using a tissue to cover your nose and mouth. Put tissues into the bin straight away and clean your hands with soap and water or an alcohol-based rub. For more information and to download a copy of the guidelines and to see our fact sheet on ways to minimise the spread of colds, please click on the buttons below. Filling up with nutritious food in the winter months When the temperature drops and the daylight hours are shorter, energy levels can take a big dip, right along with mood. Children may be less active in the cold winter months, making it extra important to focus on proper nutrition this time of year. The best way to protect against colds is to eat a range of foods across the five food groups. Vegetables and legumes/beans are the ideal food group to add to winter menus. Make sure to eat a variety of different colours to increase the amount of minerals and vitamins absorbed. Fruit and vegetables are also high in fibre, keep us fuller for longer, low in kilojoules and have a range of phytochemicals, which are only found in plants. What are phytochemicals?
Different categories of vegetables Dark green or cruciferous/brassica Root/tubular/bulb vegetables Legumes/beans Other vegetables Why is zinc good for us? Nutritious foods high in zinc are crucial for the normal growth and development of the cells during pregnancy, infancy and childhood. In addition, the body needs zinc to maintain cells as we age. Zinc also helps the immune system fight off invading bacteria and viruses such as the flu. What food contains zinc?. Meat, fish and poultry are the major contributors of zinc to the diet, but wholegrain cereals, fortified cereals, nuts and dairy foods also contribute smaller amounts. It is best to get zinc from food as supplements can interfere with the absorption of other nutrients such as iron and copper. Zinc deficiency can lead to loss of appetite, decreased growth and impaired immune function. If there are any concerns, seek the advice from an Accredited Practising Dietitian or General Practitioner. For more information on what the recommended daily intake for infants and children should be and what foods to find zinc in click the button below. Planning in advance for fussy eaters Why is a child fussy? There are many factors as to why, some more complex than others. Let's start with the general reasons. It could be as simple as a child being tired, or perhaps drinks and snacks have been eaten close to mealtime. Grazing across the day can often dull their appetite for more nutritious meals, or they may be distracted by what is happening in the home or by the television. With young children, around 20-50% of children will experience feeding difficulties but will often grow out of this as they age. The early childhood years are a crucial time for eating various foods and developing eating behaviours and food preferences. The greater the variety of foods, textures and flavours that children are exposed to in their early years, the greater the likelihood that they will eat a range of foods as an adult. For parents struggling with a fussy eater at home here are some of our top tips!!
For more information on fussy eating and ways to support families, click on the button below. Recipes As the weather starts to cools down, out come the winter warmer meals. Aim for meals that provide opportunities to include plenty of vegetables and colour such as this Pumpkin and Lentil Soup and delicious Chicken Quesadillas. Events and Training Training Opportunities for ECEC Professionals Food Safety Supervisor Course We provide opportunities for students to complete the course and all assessment in one day at face-to-face training. Keep an eye out for our 2022 courses! Click on the following link for more information on the venue, cost and to register as details become available: Food Safety Supervisor Course for Early Years Settings **NEW** Food Safety Supervisor Recertification Course Food Safety Recertification Course Online Training We offer a suite of online training programs through our partner In Safe Hands. Click on the following links for more information and to register. Level 1 - Nutrition Requirements for Early Years
Educators Level 1 - Safe Food Handling for Early Years Educators Safe Knife Skills Healthy at Home E-newsletterIn this edition
How to access previous Food Foundations e-newslettersDid you know you can access previous Food Foundations e-newsletters on the website. To access newsletters you must be logged into the subscribers section of the website. Click on the link below (https://naqld.org/services/food-foundations/) and then scroll down to 'E-newsletters'. Enjoy! You have received this newsletter because you have supplied NAQ Nutrition with your details. NAQ Nutrition, 12/212 Curtin Avenue West EAGLE FARM, QLD 4009 |