A free National resource

The Best Practice Guide for Early Childhood Education and Care Food Environment

Practical, evidence-informed guidance for centre based and family day care services supporting children from birth to five years. Explore the guide, or just the pages your team needs this week.

Module One

Mealtime Environment and Practices

Appetite regulation and responsive feeding; Supporting Food preferences, acceptance and diversity; Development of feeding, eating and drinking practices; Language, body image and responding to eating concerns; Designing Mealtime Approaches

7 sections to download

Module Two

Menu and Meal Quality

Optimal nutrition and child health, development and wellbeing; Australian Dietary Guidelines and Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines; Introduction of solid/first foods; Effective menu and meal planning. Practice and feedback; Food allergy and food safety

7 sections to download

Module Three

Food Education

Embedding food-based learning in everyday practice; Cooking and food preparation experiences; Food themes and learning experiences; Extending learning opportunities; Partnerships and collaboration for food education opportunities

6 sections to download

Module Four

Staff and Family Engagement

Communication with families around mealtimes, meals and menus; Services and educators’ knowledge, experience and insights; Referral pathways – support, information, advice; Supporting families at lunchbox services; Supporting families with children who experience disability; Supporting families of children with food allergies

7 sections to download

Module Five

Sustainable Food Practices

Defining sustainability; Plant-based and minimally processed foods; Greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity and food packaging; Food waste; Local and seasonal food; Gardens in ECEC services and settings

7 sections to download

Module Six

Quality, Leadership and Governance

Education and Care Services National Law Regulations for Food Environments; Food safety; Quality improvement in food Environments and the best practice guide

3 sections one download

Case Studies

Twenty detailed Case Studies from across urban, regional and remote Australian services and organisations outlining their objectives, process, learnings and outcomes

Posters

These resources take detail from the modules and provide them as practical tools that can go up on a wall or you can take into a meeting or use for planning

Factsheets for Families

Services may wish to share these resources with families asking for further information about a variety of topics. Or Families may wish to download any fact sheets on the topics they would like more information on.

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