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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:
- spending more time in active play
- spending less time sitting
- getting enough sleep each day.
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:
- Concepts in infection control
Basics of infectious diseases - what causes them, how they spread and how to prevent them. To stop infections from spreading, you can break the chain of infection at any point through effective hand hygiene, exclusion of ill children, educators and other staff, immunisation, cough and sneeze etiquette, appropriate use of gloves, and effective environmental cleaning.
- Monitoring illness in children
Monitoring children who become ill while in the education and care service, including watching for and recording symptoms in children, what to do if a child has a fever, keeping records, and managing symptoms after immunisation.
- Procedures
Common procedures can help education and care services prevent and control the spread of infections. These include how to: perform effective hand hygiene, use gloves appropriately, change nappies and assist children in toileting, deal with spills of blood, faeces, vomit, urine and nasal discharge, clean the education and care service, and ensure that food is safely stored and prepared.
- Issues for employers, educators and other staff
Work health and safety, immunisation for adults, infectious diseases during pregnancy, and how public health units can help control the spread of infections.
- Fact sheets on diseases common to education and care services
Quick-reference guides to infectious diseases that may appear in education and care services.
- Useful forms, contacts and websites
Information for various organisations, including public health units, useful websites and a list of terms with definitions.
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?
- Plant chemicals
- Help the immune system to function
- Protect cells and DNA from damage
- Antioxidants
- Reduce inflammation
- Help regulate hormones
Different categories of vegetables
Dark green or cruciferous/brassica
Broccoli, brussels sprouts, bok choy, cabbages, cauliflower, kale, lettuce, silverbeet, spinach, snow peas.
A good source of vitamin C and K, calcium and iron.
Root/tubular/bulb vegetables
Potato, cassava, sweet potato, taro, carrots, beetroot, onions, shallots, garlic, bamboo shoots, swede, turnip.
A good source of vitamin A and C, also good for the immune system, eye health and more.
Legumes/beans
Red kidney beans, soybeans, lima beans, cannellini beans, chickpeas, lentils, split peas, tofu. A good source of fibre, protein, keeps you fuller for longer and much more.
Other vegetables
Tomato, celery, sprouts, zucchini, squash, avocado, capsicum, eggplant, mushrooms, cucumber, okra, pumpkin, green peas, green beans. All full of a variety of vitamins and minerals for a healthy lifestyle.
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!!
- Vegetables - show some on the plate and hide some in the food, pair familiar and liked foods with disliked or new foods, and/or prepare food differently.
- Offer and encourage new foods regularly, including different tastes, textures and colours. Encourage children to taste new ones, alongside familiar ones. Continue to offer new foods to children, even if they do not taste them on the first few occasions.
- One out of every two toddlers refuses to eat a new food 50% of the time. But, don't give up too soon – it takes 10 -15 presentations before the brain stops identifying the food as new.
- Be optimistic about food and use positive language when speaking about food. For example, say, "Yum! This tastes so fresh and healthy; did you know broccoli helps make us strong!".
- Maintain a regular mealtime routine, and make mealtimes enjoyable by removing the pressure to eat. Encourage children to sit at the table, place the meal in front of each person, and then leave them to decide whether or not to eat. For some kids, this will motivate them to try new things. Being in a group can also encourage children to try new foods, as they are more likely to do so if they see their peers eating and enjoying them.
- Role model healthy food behaviours as children will mimic your behaviours and eat the foods you are eating. Work in partnership with parents, and support them to encourage healthy eating behaviours at home. Discuss eating and nutrition with parents, as this provides a valuable opportunity to learn about children's eating habits and skills both at home and in the early childhood setting.
- Some of the reasons a child may be fussy about vegetables could be due to limited exposure when they are young, late introduction to lumpy foods, early feeding difficulties and vegetables can have a bitter taste that children don't enjoy.
- Set a time limit of 20–30 minutes for a meal. After this time, remove any uneaten food and let the child leave the table. Do not offer alternative food or drinks until the next planned meal or snack.
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
Our Food Safety Supervisor courses include industry specific content and are designed with the needs of our students in mind.
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
Has it been a while since you completed your Food Safety Supervisor Course? We are now offering a Food Safety Supervisor recertification training for those who want to refresh their skills and knowledge. The face to face training can be completed in 3 hours and upon successful completion of the training, students will receive a Statement of Attainment for the units of competency HLTFSE001, HLTFSE005, and HLTFSE007.
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
Are you up to date with the nutrition requirements for ECEC settings? This training covers the nutrition basics that all staff working in the ECEC sector need to be aware of including the Australian Dietary Guidelines and nutrition in the National Quality Standard.
Level 1 - Safe Food Handling for Early Years Educators
This Online Food Safety training covers the food safety basics that all staff working in the ECEC sector need to be aware of.
Level 2 - Safe Food Handling for Early Years Educators
This session is level 2, the second in a series of food safety courses designed for ECEC educators. This session builds on knowledge gained from level 1 by exploring more complex food safety concepts.
Safe Knife Skills
Are you new to the kitchen environment or would you like to refresh your knife skills? This online course has step by step instructions to equip you with the knife skills to ensure competency.
Healthy at Home E-newsletter
In this edition
- Remind me again, why is salt bad for you?
- Sick of packing school lunches already? Here’s how to make it easier
- How much tuna can I eat a week before I need to worry about mercury?
- Recipe idea - Banana Pancakes
How to access previous Food Foundations e-newsletters
Did 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!
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NAQ Nutrition, 12/212 Curtin Avenue West EAGLE FARM, QLD 4009
Ph (07) 3257 4393
