FOOD AND NUTRITION POLICY

RATIONALE

Curious Minds Early Learning encourages a healthy and safe eating environment. We understand that healthy kai (food) and drink choices enhances educational outcomes for our tamariki (children). Mealtimes are an important part of our daily routine, and we aim to make them positive and enriching experiences.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this policy is to create a positive mealtime environment where there is a focus on healthy eating habits and practices and fuelling our bodies for learning and play. It is to also ensure we are creating a safe eating environment, minimising choking risks, kai allergies and ensuring the safe preparation and storing of kai and complying with all Ministry of Education kai related regulations and requirements.

REFERENCES AND REGULATIONS

Te Whāriki (2017):

• Well-being/Mana Atua: Goal 1 - Children experience an environment where their health is promoted.

Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008: 45 (1.a.ii) and 46 (1.a)

Licensing Criteria for Education & Care Services 2008 and Early Childhood Education Curriculum Framework (amended 2022):

• PF15: There is a safe and hygienic place for children attending to sit when eating.
• PF16: There are facilities for the hygienic preparation, storage and/or serving of food and drink that contain:
• A means of keeping perishable food at a temperature at or below 4˚C and protected from vermin and insects;
• a means of cooking and/or heating food;
• a means of hygienically washing dishes;
• a sink connected to a hot water supply;
• storage; and
• food preparation surfaces that are impervious to moisture and can be easily maintained in a hygienic condition.
• PF17: Kitchen and cooking facilities or appliances are designed, located, or fitted with safety devices to ensure that children cannot access them without adult assistance or supervision.
• HS19: Food is served at appropriate times to meet the nutritional needs of each child while they are attending.

Where food is provided by the service, it is of sufficient variety, quantity and quality to meet nutritional and developmental needs of each child.

Where food is provided by parents, the service encourages and promotes healthy eating guidelines. DOCUMENTATION REQUIRED: A record of all food served (provided by service). Records show the type of food provided and are available for inspection 3 months after food is served.

• HS20: Food is prepared, served, and stored hygienically.
• HS21: An ample supply of water that is fit to drink is available to children at all times, and older children are able to access this water independently.
• HS22: Children are supervised and seated while eating. Where food is provided by the service, foods that pose a high choking risk are not to be served unless prepared in accordance with best practice as set out in the Ministry of Health: Reducing food-related choking for babies and young children at early learning services. Where food is provided by parents, the service promotes best practices as set out in Ministry of Health: Reducing food-related choking for babies and young children at early learning services and must provide a copy of this information sheet to all parents at the time of enrolment.
• HS23: Infants under the age of 6 months and other children unable to drink independently are held semi-upright when being fed. Any infant milk food given to a child under the age of 12 months is of a type approved by the child’s parent.

PROCEDURES

Kai Preparation and Kai Safety

• All kai is prepared, served and stored hygienically.
• In Island Bay, Johnsonville and Miramar where meals are fully prepared and provided, a cook is employed to prepare and serve nutritional meals on the premises each day. This person will hold a Food Safety certificate.
• All meals and snacks served are prepared in accordance with the Ministry of Health’s ‘Reducing food-related choking for babies and young children at Early Learning Services’ (MoH, 2020).
• All permanent staff are first aid certified and trained providing first aid for any kai related incidences that could occur.
• If the Centre cook is unavailable to work, a relief cook is organised. This staff member will have existing knowledge of kai safety practices, follow recipes, hygiene practices and cleaning requirements.
• All staff members will wash and dry their hands before handling kai. Gloves can be worn as an extra level of safety.

Kai Provided

• Meals and the menu are discussed with mātua (parents/caregivers) upon enrolment.
• Island Bay, Johnsonville and Miramar prepare and provide morning tea, afternoon tea and a hot cooked meal at lunch.
• Queenstown prepare and provide morning tea and afternoon tea for tamariki, with mātua providing a lunch box of kai for lunch.
• All Centre’s provide a late afternoon/early evening snack for tamariki who are collected later in the evening.
• Children have access to water at all times and are encouraged to drink water throughout the day. Tamariki are discouraged from sharing cups and bottles. Island Bay, Johnsonville and Miramar also provide milk with morning tea.

Kai Time

• Tamariki will wash their hands thoroughly with soap before sitting down to eat.
• There is a karakia (blessing) before every meal served.
• For each meal there is a specific place set aside for tamariki to sit and eat, either at a kai table or on the ‘kai blanket’.
• Tamariki will sit down to eat, and kaiako will sit with them actively supervising while they are eating and drinking.
• Adults encourage tamariki by role modelling healthy eating when they share mealtimes together.
• If kai is refused, encouragement is offered. If kai is still refused, it is offered later when they are hungry. In our centre’s where lunch is provided, an alternative healthy option can be offered. Tamariki are empowered by having control over their kai intake, by allowing self-choice and self-service at mealtimes (when practical).
• If a tamaiti often refuses kai, a plan will be developed in partnership with mātua, to create agreed and consistent strategies to encourage a healthy relationship with kai and physical wellbeing.
• Mealtime rituals will be a pleasurable and unhurried time together. Kaiako will prepare everything needed for the meal before they sit down and are there to assist tamariki.
• Mealtimes provides opportunities to develop:

• Positive attitudes toward eating and kai nutrition
• Independence and self-care skills at an appropriate level. E.g. learning how to feed themselves, serve their kai, clear away their dishes etc.
• Kai time preparation and hygiene practices

• Cloths are used to clean our youngest tamariki and made available for our older tamariki to clean their hands and face after their meal.
• After kai time food waste and equipment are returned to the kitchen, rubbish disposed of, tables and floors are cleaned.

Lunchboxes/Kai from home

• Our Queenstown centre will enjoy a packed lunch provided by mātua. Kai needs to be provided in a clean, named lunchbox, ready to eat (prepared in the way they intend their tamaiti to eat it). Any kai that needs to be reheated must be in a separate container. Kai that needs to be refrigerated will be done so by mātua in the morning.  
• To promote independence and preparation for school our  Island Bay, Johnsonville and Miramar centre’s encourage our oldest tamariki to bring their own lunch box on specified days arranged by kaiako. This of course is optional, and tamariki are still welcome to eat the Centre kai.
• Kai brought into the Centre from home is required to be healthy and nutritious, is safe for their tamaiti to eat and nut free.

Allergies/Dietary Requirements

• Kai allergies, intolerances and special dietary requirements will be a shared responsibility of whānau (families) and the Centre.
• All staff will be made aware of individual tamariki kai allergies, intolerances, and special dietary requirements. A visual guide including a photo of the tamaiti and list of allergies, intolerances and special dietary requirements, will be kept in the kitchen and/or by the kai tables for reference. For all allergies, staff will know what symptoms to be aware of and what to do in case of an allergic reaction and emergency protocols.
• The Centre caters to any tamaiti with a kai allergy, intolerance or special dietary requirement. Mātua are welcome to supply an alternative if they prefer.
• Any tamaiti who has a kai allergy, intolerance or special dietary requirement will have their kai served on a different coloured plate and named, so all staff are aware of what the tamaiti is eating.
• Curious Minds Early Learning is a nut free environment. This includes all nut-based products including but not limited to; Nutella, nut inclusive muesli bars, peanut butter, foods cooked in nut-based oils etc.
• Johnsonville is also an egg free environment. This includes all egg products including in baking.

Nutrition

• Curious Minds Early Learning promotes and encourages healthy eating habits and practices and fuelling our bodies for learning and play.
• The Centre’s promote tamariki drinking only milk and water.
• All kai provided is low in sugar and salt with a focus on wholefoods, minimising/eliminating processed packaged kai.
• Healthy cooking methods are used such as baking, steaming and boiling.
• Regular nutrition and cooking activities are planned with tamariki as part of the curriculum.
• Funds are available for resources that support nutrition education
• Professional development is undertaken to support healthy eating for tamariki.
• All fundraising and Centre events support healthy eating and recommendations are provided if required.

Bottle Feeding

• For tamariki requiring a bottle at the Centre, mātua will provide a named bottle to keep at the Centre. Bottles will return home when the tamaiti no longer requires bottle feeding and has transitioned to a cup/sippy cup. At Queenstown mātua will supply enough bottles each day which are taken home each night and cleaned.
• Mātua will provide a named, unopened tin of their choice of infant formula or expressed breastmilk supplied in a named and dated sealable bottle or pouch. Formula will be stored safely and expressed breast milk will be stored in the fridge.
• The date of opening the tin of formula must be recorded, and the product returned to mātua or discarded according to the expiry information on the package.
• Kaiako will make up bottles just before use. Breast milk will be heated with warm water.
• Tamariki are fed bottles as required/requested by mātua.
• Pepi (babies) and tamariki who are unable to drink independently are held in a semi-upright position while being fed bottles or given drinks.
• Records will be kept of all bottles given stating the date, time fed, and the quantity the tamaiti consumed (e.g. 200ml).  
• At Island Bay, Johnsonville and Miramar, kaiako are responsible for the washing, sanitising and storage of bottles to maintain high hygiene standards. At Queenstown, bottles will be sent home daily for cleaning.
• Breastfeeding is welcomed/supported by the Centre and a comfortable space is made available.

Birthdays/Celebrations

• The Centre celebrates all birthdays and special occasions making our tamariki and staff feel loved and creating a sense of belonging. Mātua are not expected to bring in any kai as part of the celebration. If they wish to, we request a healthy option. E.g. fruit platter, that is considerate of kai allergies and kai safety.

Records

• Under the Food Act, 2014, in Centre’s where meals are fully prepared and provided, Island Bay, Johnsonville and Miramar (excluding Queenstown) are registered and operate under a National Programme Level 2. Kai safety records and kai safety audits are adhered to. The Centre’s are registered with the Wellington City Council and are regularly verified, keeping and maintaining records that demonstrate food is purchased, stored, prepared and served safely.
• All kai served in the Centre during the hours of operation is recorded including kai brought in from home and kai made for special occasions.
• The menu is on a rotation and displayed in Centre. The Centre cook records the date (week commencing…) on each menu at the start of the week.
• Any exceptions to the menu are recorded on the ‘Record of Food Served’ sheet (Appendix One).

LINKS TO RELATED POLICIES/PROCEDURES

• Health and Safety policy
• Medication policy
• Illness policy