put into practice. Consulting a nutrition professional can help ensure the policy has the appropriate nutrition emphasis. Contact the Healthy Eating Advisory Service on 1300 22 52 88 or email for advice from our experienced nutritionists and dietitians. Remember: Children are also important stakeholders who need to be considered, even if they cannot officially take part in a working group. STAGE 2 Reviewing current practices and identifying needs Identify day-to-day practices relevant to food and nutrition These may form the basis for the policy. If your service currently has a food below). Ask the service’s community for input Inform all staff and families that a nutrition and healthy eating policy is being developed and provide an opportunity for everyone to contribute. STAGE 3 Writing the policy Summarise findings and prepare a draft policy Use the Healthy Eating Advisory Service’s checklist, What to include in a nutrition and healthy eating policy, as well as other relevant resources to develop an agreed picture of what makes an ideal health promoting food and nutrition service for early childhood services. Resources to consider may include: Australian Dietary Guidelines Infant Feeding Guidelines National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care Food allergy and intolerance Menu planning guidelines for long day care Get Up and Grow: Healthy eating and physical activity for childhood Achievement Program resources this information, draft a policy document that is clear and easy to follow. Be sure to include any requirements prescribed by state or national licensing and accreditation authorities. Circulate the draft policy to key stakeholders and invite feedback Invite staff and families to comment on the draft policy before it is put into practice. Make any necessary changes according to the feedback received. 4 Implementing the policy Put the new policy into practice: inform all staff, parents and families about the new policy and display it in clear view.Make any changes required according to the goals and strategies set out in the policy document, and ensure that your service is now operating according to each of the policy statements. Some training and professional development or dedicated work time may be required to assist staff members in implementing some of the changes. Identify any practices that are not consistent with the policy, as well as any barriers. Work out ways to overcome the barriers in order to put the policy into practice.
put into practice. Consulting a nutrition professional can help ensure the policy has the appropriate nutrition emphasis. Contact the Healthy Eating Advisory Service on 1300 22 52 88 or email for advice from our experienced nutritionists and dietitians. Remember: Children are also important stakeholders who need to be considered, even if they cannot officially take part in a working group. STAGE 2 Reviewing current practices and identifying needs Identify day-to-day practices relevant to food and nutrition These may form the basis for the policy. If your service currently has a food below). Ask the service’s community for input Inform all staff and families that a nutrition and healthy eating policy is being developed and provide an opportunity for everyone to contribute. STAGE 3 Writing the policy Summarise findings and prepare a draft policy Use the Healthy Eating Advisory Service’s checklist, What to include in a nutrition and healthy eating policy, as well as other relevant resources to develop an agreed picture of what makes an ideal health promoting food and nutrition service for early childhood services. Resources to consider may include: Australian Dietary Guidelines Infant Feeding Guidelines National Quality Standard for Early Childhood Education and Care Food allergy and intolerance Menu planning guidelines for long day care Get Up and Grow: Healthy eating and physical activity for childhood Achievement Program resources this information, draft a policy document that is clear and easy to follow. Be sure to include any requirements prescribed by state or national licensing and accreditation authorities. Circulate the draft policy to key stakeholders and invite feedback Invite staff and families to comment on the draft policy before it is put into practice. Make any necessary changes according to the feedback received. 4 Implementing the policy Put the new policy into practice: inform all staff, parents and families about the new policy and display it in clear view.Make any changes required according to the goals and strategies set out in the policy document, and ensure that your service is now operating according to each of the policy statements. Some training and professional development or dedicated work time may be required to assist staff members in implementing some of the changes. Identify any practices that are not consistent with the policy, as well as any barriers. Work out ways to overcome the barriers in order to put the policy into practice.
ECS-Developing-healthy-eating-policy.docx