At Central Yorke School we recognise the importance of healthy eating in supporting children and teens to grow and learn. We actively take steps to promote and support children, students and their families to develop healthy eating habits for life through our Food Supply and Nutrition Policy, our curriculum, our garden to plate program, the food choices offered at the Canteen and by modelling good eating habits. Healthy eating and good nutrition is important to help children grow up healthy and strong. Healthy eating supports children:
- to have energy to learn and play.
- to maintain a healthy weight.
- to build a strong immunity against sickness and to prevent other problems associated with a poor diet such as constipation and tooth decay.
Healthy eating and good nutrition are also essential in supporting children’s brain development and plays a key role in a child’s ability to concentrate and learn. Poor nutrition and hunger often impacts children’s behaviour and their ability to actively participate in preschool and school environments. Research shows that the first three years of a child’s life are crucial for brain development. A failure to optimise brain development during this period can result in long-term consequences in their education, job potential and adult mental health. Nutrition is one way to support early brain development.
If children learn good eating habits by eating a range of healthy foods from 6 months of age, it will be easier for them to continue these habits into their teens and then adulthood. Healthy eating and good nutrition has lasting health benefits and is important for preventing chronic diseases such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes.
Supporting healthy eating
How can you support your child in developing healthy eating behaviours? You can:
- Involve children in preparing healthy snacks and meals – cutting up fresh fruit and vegetables, grating vegetables for sandwich fillings, packing their lunch box, shopping together to purchase fresh food.
- cook together.
- grow fruit and vegetables at home.
- role-model healthy eating habits.
- eat meals together in a calm and pleasant environment. This can encourage enjoyment of healthy foods and promote social interactions.
- avoid using food as a treat to encourage or reward good behaviour.
- allow children to regulate how much they eat based on their own appetite. Children can successfully regulate the amount of food they need from day to day.
Encourage children to try new foods- research shows that it takes approximately ten tastes of a new food for a child to learn to like it.
Please refer to the following food guides to support your decisions around making healthy food choices for and with your child. Remember fresh is best. Happy cooking!