Mealtime Environment and Practices

Setting the Scene for Mealtime Environment and Practices Module

Putting the Mealtime Environment and Practice Module into Context

Appetite Regulation, Responsive Feeding and Hunger and ‘Had Enough’ Cue Recognition

In ECEC settings, how a child is offered food is equally important as which foods a child is served to eat. Offering food to a child involves caregivers responding to the child’s individual needs

Supporting Food preferences, Food Acceptance and Food Diversity

Children’s food preferences shift constantly in early childhood. These changes often prompt questions from families and educators, but they are typical signs of learning, development, growing autonomy, and sensory exploration.

Development of Feeding, Eating and Drinking Practices

Mealtimes provide opportunities for connection and learning within family and cultural contexts. Caregiver responsiveness and attunement can support positive mealtime participation. Feeding is the term used to describe the process of bringing food to the mouth, sometimes called self feeding.

Language, Body Image and Responding to Eating Concerns

Supporting Children’s Individual Food Journeys, body image and guidance for responding to eating concerns

Food Allergy and Food Safety

Designing Mealtime Approaches

Every ECEC service creates mealtimes that work for their unique context. This section provides a toolkit of mealtime approaches that services can choose from and adapt.