Launch of nutrition guide for children in child care centres

26/2/97

Concerns about the food provided for children in child care has prompted the Dairy Industry Authority to produce a nutrition guide to make sure the dietary needs of young children are being met.

Launching 'A Healthy Start' in Perth this morning, Health Minister Kevin Prince said the guide was a significant step towards better health, growth and development for more than 22,000 young Western Australians.

"In WA, one in six children under the age of five is in part-time or full-time day care - the most important time of their lives for proper nutrition," Mr Prince said.

"While many centres do a good job providing healthy, balanced meals, some have old-fashioned ideas or misconceptions about what children should eat.

"The nutrition guide will help the child care industry provide the right food to meet young children's needs for normal growth and development."

The Dairy Industry Authority researched and wrote 'A Healthy Start' in consultation with the Health Department of WA, the child care industry and a nutrition consultant.

The guide provides child care centres and family day care with comprehensive information on the development of nutrition policy, food safety, meal planning and common food-related problems. It also gives practical advice on quantities for ordering, lists local bulk food suppliers and provides recipes for meals, snacks and party food.

Sydney nutritionist, dietician and author Catherine Saxelby, in Perth for the launch, said that many Australian children were missing out on good nutrition.

"Children can spend up to 10 hours a day at a child care centre, five days a week, and so eat most of their weekday meals at the centre," she said.

"It is vital that food co-ordinators in these centres understand children's special nutrition needs. Relative to their body weight, children's nutrient and energy requirements are greater than those for adults.

"They need easily absorbed sources of iron, calcium and zinc, as well as concentrated kilojoules for growth, and their small stomach capacity means that they need frequent healthy snacks as well as three balanced meals a day.

"If the child care centre is not providing nutritious meals, parents could compound the problem by feeding their children only a light meal or snack when they get home."

Media contact: Kirsten Stoney 221 1377