HEALTH & NUTRITION POLICY
This policy is intended to guide staff and volunteers in ways to:
This policy supports staff and volunteers to integrate healthy food choices into daily activities at school.
Food attitudes and habits are established very early in life. Poor nutrition and inactivity have been linked to diseases such as obesity, heart disease, cancer and diabetes. Several studies of young Australian children have shown that a significant percentage have high blood fats, high blood pressure, constipation and other problems which could lead on to these diseases.
A healthy lifestyle contributes to students’ sense of wellbeing and builds their self-confidence. Educators help students understand the value of healthy eating and keeping fit and active. As students become more independent, they can take greater responsibility for their health and wellbeing. A key part of learning about and adopting healthy lifestyles involves children seeing these modelled positively and enthusiastically by the significant people in their lives.
Green Umbrella OSHC has an opportunity to develop healthy attitudes to food and physical activity. Educators model this both through their personal actions and direct teaching.
Green Umbrella OSHC is a nut-free environment, so that students with dangerous nut allergies are protected from accidental contact with nuts. Families are informed of Green Umbrella’s nut-free policy at enrolment. This policy is referenced in the parent handbook, the parent noticeboard and reminders are provided in Green Umbrella’s newsletter.
While Green Umbrella acknowledges parental preferences for what their children eat at out of school hours care, staff do not intervene in student food choices, unless the student is listed with the school as having food allergies and intolerances.
Children’s capacity to learn is diminished when they are malnourished or hungry. If a student is hungry, staff will provide them with food kept in the kitchen for this purpose.
Green Umbrella’s environment invites a physically active lifestyle. The bush setting, the classroom design and the curriculum all encourage movement. Staff encourage physical activity, and movement is incorporated into daily activities. Staff use movement-based activities like bush walks and outdoor exploration and games as a foundation for learning.
Green Umbrella has established a vegetable garden. Students at after school care have the opportunity to participate in age-appropriate gardening.
All staff have completed the Food Handler Basic Certificate.
Staff model a healthy, varied and balanced diet. Staff ensure that student meal breaks are relaxed, pleasant and timed to meet the needs of the children.
Water is the preferred drink for students and is available to students, teachers and visitors at all times.
Food to suit students with gluten-free, dairy-free, wheat free and vegetarian diets will be provided for students as before school and after school choices. Parents will be reminded to only send nut free food for their child when providing food for vacation care.
We love to celebrate birthdays at Green Umbrella. Families are encouraged to provide birthday food with healthy ingredients, and to provide options for students with allergies or food preferences (eg vegetarian or dairy free).
All staff take students’ dietary requirements into consideration in planning events and activities. Staff support and protect children who suffer from food allergies or intolerances.
Cooking is incorporated into the activities at Green Umbrella, and where possible we use products grown in our garden. We also incorporate foods from other cultures into the learning experiences.
The weekly program sent to parents provides a breakdown of the nutrition information in the food provided to the children each day.
Approval date: 6 October 2021
Reviewed Date: August 2024
Date for review: August 2027