10.POLICY ON HEALTHY EATING
1)Healthy Eating Policy
2) Food Hygiene Policy
1) Healthy Eating Policy
1.RATIONALE AND POLICY CONSIDERATIONS
“A child’s early years are important for their future health and well-being, and good nutrition during this time lays a healthy foundation for all of childhood and life.” Play Together’s Policy on Healthy Eating ensures that the food and drink provided to the children attending the service is nutritious, and complies with the dietary or religious requirements of the child.
Eating a balanced diet is vital for children’s good health and well-being. Food provides the energy, protein, essential fats, vitamins and minerals to live, grow and function properly. Children need a wide variety of different foods to provide the right amounts of nutrients for good health and development. The food that child eats in their early years influences their eating habits as they grow and develop. Play Together crèche is aware of the importance to teach young children about healthy food choices and staying well hydrated, and to help them develop good habits and a healthy relationship with food from an early age.
The interactions relating to healthy eating are also important. Síolta Standard 9 Component 9.4 states that a quality service is proactive in supporting the development of healthy eating habits in children while supporting their enjoyment and appreciation of eating and drinking as a positive social experience.
Aistear states that adults support children’s psychological and physical well-being by helping them to make healthy choices about nutrition, hygiene and exercise (this also applies to hydration). One of Aistear’s learning goals for young children is to “make healthy choices and demonstrate positive attitudes to nutrition, hygiene, exercise, and routine”.
Legislation and regulatory requirements
Having clear, written policy and procedure on Healthy Eating is a requirement of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016 under regulation 10 and 22 which sets out what is to be included in Healthy Eating Policy. Play Together crèche compliance with Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-school Services.
Children need:
· Their carers and educators to understand the importance of healthy nutrition.
· This policy to recognise that food has always been a central part of community, social, cultural and religious life.
· This policy to recognise in its practice guidance that, in addition to satisfying physical and social needs, food and the way it is experienced may also satisfy certain emotional needs (not to be used as a reward for behaviour, but enjoyed as part of a positive social experience). These emotional needs include a sense of security, love and acceptance.
· The interactions relating to eating and drinking to always be positive.
· The effect of poor nutrition on learning to be considered.
· This policy to ensure that all aspects of healthy eating are considered and their dietary requirements are appropriately met as well as any particular religious requirements their family may have. Children with allergies and very young children also need this policy to help ensure that they are not put at risk of allergic reactions to food or drink or of choking.
Parents’ and Guardians’ needs:
· This policy to clearly outline the service’s approach to healthy eating including the ways in which sufficient, suitable and nutritious food and drink are made available to their child and how these are suited to their age and development, and psychological as well as physical needs.
· To know what foods and drinks are provided by the service or to be included by them in their child’s lunch box, how they are provided and what foods or drinks should not be included.
· To be aware of the service’s positive approach to interactions with the children relating to eating and drinking.
· To know what the service’s specific approach is to ensuring that no child will be given access to a food to which they have a known allergy and that no child will be at risk of choking on any foods.
· To know that any types of nuts are strictly not allowed for risk of choking.
All staff members need to know:
· This policy to provide clear information on what the service’s approach is to providing healthy, safe and nutritious food for the children.
· This policy to provide the correct information for them to give to parents/guardians about what foods the service will provide and in what ways, and what types of foods they encourage parents/guardians to provide for their child in snack or lunch boxes.
· The policy to include guidance on how to ensure that food provided in the service is safe for the children.
· Clarity on what the service approach is to how, when, where and how much the children eat or are fed, as well as what kinds of interactions with the children are expected of them around and during meal times.
· To know how to access the quality guidelines relating to food and nutrition that are associated with the policy, and how these guidelines are to be implemented in the service.
Management needs:
· This policy to ensure that the service meets the requirements of the Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016in relation to Food and Drink (Regulation 22) and the provision of a Healthy Eating Policy (Regulation 10).
· To ensure through this policy that all staff members and all parents/guardians of children attending the service are clear on the service’s approach to healthy eating and positive interactions relating to eating and drinking.
· All staff members and parents/guardians/carers to clearly understand their respective roles and responsibilities in relation to all children attending the service being provided appropriately with healthy, safe and nutritious foods that meet their particular needs and religious requirements.
National Quality Frameworks
· Tusla Quality and Regulatory Framework
· Síolta: The National Quality Framework for Early Childhood Education
· Aistear: The Early Childhood Curriculum Framework
· 2. DEFINITIONS/GLOSSARY
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Healthy Eating |
Means eating a variety of foods that give the children the nutrients they need to maintain their health, feel good and have energy. These nutrient include protein, carbohydrates, fat, water, vitamins and minerals. |
3. POLICY STATEMENT
Play Together crèche ensures snacks that are given between meals are healthy, nutritious that help provide children with the energy and nutrients they need. Menu planning sheets will be used on a weekly basis to plan meals. Menus are reviewed and changed on a regular basis to ensure a varied range of food choices for the children. Our weekly menu is displayed at the reception board. If there are any changes in the menu will be noted and any food that are substituted will be equal nutrient value. (see Appendix A)
We feel it is important at young age to introduce and educate children in our care about good nutrition and the healthy food choices and benefits. We will ensure our children’s safety by complying with all the relevant legislations and framework.
Healthy eating is promoted through an arrangement of activities for the children including play, stories, music, cookery etc. The implementation of this Healthy Eating Policy will not only relate to the provision of healthy foods and drinks in the service, in order to promote the nutritional and general well-being of the children, but it will also address food related activities involving the children which should encourage and enable them to make healthy choices in the future.
· Play Together Menu operates on a three-week menu plan (see Appendix A). All food is cooked and prepared on the premises under a strictly monitored HACCP programme recommended by the HSE.
· Our menus are designed to provide a well-balanced and nutritious diet. Our plan shows a guide for breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for five days of the week, over a three-week period.
· At the end of week three the menu reverts to week one again and so on. This way we can be sure that each child receives the recommended number of serving from all food groups each day. We will also ensure that appropriate portion sizes are offered.
· The menu for the week is written up each week and is displayed prominently for everyone to see.
· In planning the menu, an effort is made to provide nutritious and well-balanced meals with a minimum of salt, sugar, frozen and fast foods.
· Mealtimes are relaxed and happy occasions where children are encouraged but never forced to eat any part of their meal, nor is food withheld for any reason other than dietary limitations. Extra portions are generally available.
· We wish to encourage a healthy lifestyle with emphasis on the enjoyable and social aspects of eating together.
Parents/guardians are asked to inform staff of any special dietary requirements. Every endeavour will be made to meet the needs of any special dietary requirement The Manager will update relevant forms and notify the kitchen. Please notify staff as soon as there are any changes. Parents might provide snacks and drinks to celebrate birthdays. Also, they may send in birthday cakes however they should be made from fresh fruit or vegetables. Jelly can be used as well.
4. Procedures and Practices:
· Drinks and small snacks are available throughout the day.
· Well-balanced and nutritious meals are provided for the children. A variety of foods is selected from each of the four main food groups every day:
o Bread, cereals, oats, rice, pasta and potatoes
o Fruit and vegetables
o Milk and dairy foods
o Meat, fish and alternatives
· Drinks, small snacks and fresh fruits are always available in our care.
· Processed meat products such as burgers, chicken nuggets and fish fingers are not served in Play Together. We only use fresh meat (beef, chicken, turkey) and fish.
· Special therapeutic dietary needs are respected. Parents are requested to give Play Together Crèche staff a copy of the diet sheet provided by their dietitian.
· Meal times are used as an opportunity to encourage good social habits.
· Whenever possible children and adults eat together.
· Good table manners will be encouraged
· Children will also be engaged in conversation if they wish
· Children that are slow eaters will be given time to eat and not rushed
· Parents will be informed on what their child eats each day.
· Parents choices are supported such as bottle feeding.
o All powdered infant formula bottles must come into the nursery pre-made.
o Parents must label all bottles with their child’s name.
· Our service is supportive of receiving expressed breast milk or alternatives.
· Children will be encouraged to sit down when eating and/or drinking. During meals and snacks staff will sit with children as a role model.
· Mealtimes should be engaged with in a positive way with the children. Staff must not use any negative association with food at any time with the children.
Sweets and fizzy drinks are not offered. Where possible snacks are sugar- free to avoid causing damage to teeth and “sugar rushes”. Fresh fruit is an ideal snack choice. Whole milk, (full fat unless requested otherwise by parents/guardians), and water is provided for children as a drink between meals.
Fruit juices and squashes should only be given with food to avoid damage to teeth. These drinks should be free from added sugars and artificial sweeteners as far as possible. Fresh juices should be diluted with at least as much water.
Rewards, Parties and Special Occasions:
· Praise and attention are used to help develop children’s self-esteem and to act as a positive reward for good behaviour. Food, e.g. sweets, should not be used as reward.
· If other forms of reward are used, they support and do not conflict healthy eating principles.
· Any sweets, creamy cookies, jellies and cakes are not allowed in Play Together. Celebration of birthdays and other special occasions focus on the sense of occasion rather than simply the provision of rich, sugary food and drinks.
· We teach children in Play Together that birthday cake could be made even from fresh fruit or vegetables, we all have fun during birthday parties playing and dancing together, we try to be focused on making a birthday child special on that day rather than provide a big party.
5. Communication Plan for Staff and Families
All parents are to be informed of the policy and procedures regarding Transitions and Settling In on enrollment. Staff members will check with parents that they have read and understood the policy and provide any assistance needed.
A summary of this policy will be included in the Parent/Guardian Handbook. This policy will also be reviewed with staff at induction and annual staff training.
A copy of all policies will be available during all hours of operation to all staff and to parents/guardians in the Policy Folder located on Play Together Creche’s website at www.playtogethergalway.com
Policies are shared with all parents/guardians via email.
Parents/guardians may receive a copy of the full policy at any time upon request. Parents/guardians and staff will receive notification of any updates through Play together Creche’s official communication panel.
6. Related Policies, Procedures and Forms
· Behaviour Guidance Policy
· Staff Training Policy
· Admissions and Enrollment Policy (Enrollment Form)
· Interaction and Communications Policy
· Curriculum Policy
· Partnership with Parents and Carers Policy
· Child Development Policy
· Accident and Incident Policy
· Food Hygiene Policy
· Three Weeks Menu Plan : Appendix A
7. References/Supporting Documents/Related Legislation
· Tusla: Quality and Regulatory Framework
· Child Care Act 1991 (Early Years Services) Regulations 2016
· Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Preschool Services
· health.gov.ie/wp-content/uploads/2014/03/Food-and-Nutrition-Guidelines-for-Pre-School-Services.pdf
· Little Bites
· www.safefood.eu/Education/Pre-school/Little-Bites-(ROI)/Healthy-eating.aspx
· 3 Week Menu Plan
· www.ncn.ie/images/3week_menu_plan_available_on_web.pdf
· Serving Size www.safefood.eu/SafeFood/media/SafeFoodLibrary/Documents/Publications_1/G6101-Safefood-App-Port-Control-Guide_single-pages.pdf
· Infant Feeding
· A Practical Infant Feeding Guide for Healthcare Professionals
· Best Practice for Infant Feeding in Ireland
· Bottle Feeding
· www.indi.ie/images/public_docs/1620_New_Guide_to_Bottle_Feeding.pdf
· Weaning
· www.safefood.eu/Healthy-Eating/Food-Diet/Life-Stages/Weaning.aspxwww.safefood.eu/SafeFood/media/SafeFoodLibrary/Documents/Healthy%20Eating/HPM00971.pdf
· Irish Nutrition and Dietetic Institute
· Safe Food –Make a Start Promotes healthy eating and food safety. Provides free to download resources on a range of childhood nutrition topics, including healthy lunchbox ideas.
· www.safefood.eu/Start/Welcome.aspx
· Bord Bia nutrition for two to fives
· www.bordbia.ie/consumer/aboutfood/nutrition/pages/nutritionfortwotofives.aspx
· Irish Food Allergy Network provides a guide to assist those who, through their work, encounter children and families affected by food allergy
· My Child
· Early Childhood Ireland – Nutrition and Regulation
· www.earlychildhoodireland.ie/work/operating-childcare-service/nutrition/nutrition-and-regulation/
· NCN Healthy Ireland Smart Start
· www.ncn.ie/index.php/contact-us/2-ncn/201-healthy-ireland-smart-start-nutrition
· ‘Feeding Behaviour of Infants and Young Children and Its Impact on Child Psychosocial and Emotional Development’, Liu YH, Stein MT., 2013. In: Tremblay RE, Boivin M, Peters RDeV, eds. Faith MS, topic ed. Encyclopedia on Early Childhood Development [online]. www.child-encyclopedia.com/child-nutrition/according-experts/feeding-behaviour-infants-and-young-children-and-its-impact-child
· Zero to Three the Feeding Relationship www.zerotothree.org/resources/1071-the-feeding-relationship
8. Who Must Observe This Policy
a) The Owner/Management Committee will:
· Ensure the service complies with all relevant Healthy Eating legislation and guidelines.
· Ensure the policy and its related procedures and practices are implemented and regularly reviewed. (Regulations 10, 14 and 22)
b) Service Manager will:
· Implement the policy and its related procedures and practices.
· Ensure that all staff members are aware of their roles and responsibilities and given appropriate training and support.
· Take appropriate action in any cases of additional needs.
· Lead the annual review of the policy.
c) All Staff Team Members will:
· Ensure that they are aware of their responsibilities to ensure children’s nutrition and healthy eating needs are met according to this policy.
· Implement the policy and its related procedures and practices.
· Contribute to reviews of the policy.
d) Parents/Guardians will:
· Be aware of and understanding their role in the implementation of the service’s Healthy Eating Policy and understanding that it applies to all of the children attending the service.
9. Actions to be followed if the Policy is not implemented
If the policy is not implemented, investigation will be taken by Manager/Owner (Iwona Sawicka).
10. Contact Information
If you need more information about this policy, contact:
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Name |
Iwona Sawicka
|
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Phone number or email |
0833187143 091/458167 or 091/458999 |
11. Policy Created
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Date this policy was created |
March 2016 |
12. Signatures
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|
Name and position |
Signature |
|
Approved by |
Iwona Sawicka |
|
13. Review Date
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Reviewed |
March 2017 |
Iwona Sawicka |
|
Reviewed |
March 2018 |
Iwona Sawicka |
|
Reviewed |
March 2019 |
Iwona Sawicka |
|
Reviewed and updated
Reviewed |
March 2020
March 2021 |
Iwona Sawicka |
Next Review Date
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Date this policy will be reviewed |
March 2022 |
2) FOOD HYGIENE
Play Together Creche will comply with the above legislation in the provision of food and food hygiene. Preschool Regulations 2016 stipulate that where food is consumed on the premises by a preschool child, the person carrying on the preschool service shall ensure that there are:
• Adequate and suitable facilities for the storage, of food.
• Adequate and suitable eating utensils, hand washing, wash-up and sterilising facilities are provided.
• All waste and other refuse must be stored hygienically, and disposed of frequently and hygienically and in such a manner as not to cause a nuisance.
• Play Together Creche will follow the food hygiene standards required under the Preschool Regulations throughout the service as ‘best practice’.
Policy and Procedure
Those responsible for preparation of food should fully comply with hygiene, storage and waste disposal regulations. The person cooking the food must be familiar with HACCP.
Food Hygiene
• Tables used for food and drink should be cleaned before and after use and floors swept where necessary.
• Children will be encouraged to wash their hands after using the toilet and before and after meals.
• All surfaces coming into contact with food should be in good repair and easy to clean. Food areas will be free from contamination, dust, flies etc.
• Adults drinking - hot drinks will not be involved in play activities. Hot drinks should be in special cups with lids if taken where children are around.
• All utensils will be kept clean and stored in a dust free place.
• All kitchen equipment is cleaned at least once a week.
• Cracked or chipped cups will not be used.
• Bibs and place mats should be washed after each use.
• Food is not placed directly onto table surfaces
• Food preparation area will be in a separate room of the service.
• Only food that is clean and undamaged is purchased
• All labels are checked and ‘best’ before and ‘use by’ dates are followed
• Any food or drink that requires heating should be served immediately and not left standing.
• Dates will be checked on all perishable food. These foods and drinks will be kept refrigerated.
• Food handlers should be aware of the need for personal hygiene, and of the action to be taken if they have an infectious illness.
Food Preparation
• Separate chopping boards should be used for raw, meat fish and vegetables.
• Fruit and vegetables should be washed well.
Kitchen
• No children in the kitchen.
• No items belonging to the children to be kept in the kitchen.
• Matches and sharp instruments must be kept out of sight.
• First Aid box kept in the kitchen/ice pack in the freezer.
• Surfaces kept clean at all times.
• Reheating is done by means of a microwave.
• All foods must be fully defrosted.
• Foods will be covered with microwave cover when being reheated in the microwave.
• Foods will only be reheated ONCE.
• Unconsumed reheated foods will be discarded.
• A minimum core temperature of 70° C must be reached when reheating foods and recorded in reheating chart. This is taken with a Digital Probe Thermometer.
• Any reheated bottle which has not been consumed within 60 minutes will be discarded.
• Fridge will be cleaned once a week using washing up liquid and hot water and hot soapy water. This is recorded on kitchen cleaning sheet.
• Temperature is taken every day of operation. (Less than 5°C) This temperature is recorded on Temperature Control Chart.
• If the fridge temperature is found to be over 5°C, any dairy produce or meats will be disposed of.
• All use by dates are checked every day and disposed of expired.
• Ensure that staff and children wash their hands before meals.
• Use disposable gloves when serving the children food including snacks.
• Sit children at the table as meals are brought to the rooms. Do not have children sitting at the table for too long before the meals are served.
• Ensure that bibs are worn by the younger children or any child who needs it.
• Never blow on or taste the children’s food.
• Never give the children food that is too hot. Let it cool before serving it to them.
• Help and encourage the children to eat their meals. Do not force or demand that a child eats their food. Use positive encouragement in a relaxed manner.
• Ensure that mealtimes are enjoyable experiences for the children.
• Teach the children table manners and etiquette. Show them how to use cutlery correctly.
• Never let one child eat another child’s food to prevent allergies or cross contamination.
• Clean up the eating area after each meal. Clean down the table etc with a clean cloth, using the anti-bacterial spray or wipe.
• All dishes and cutlery are sent to the kitchen. Cups/beakers which are kept in the classroom should be washed with washing up liquid and hot water and dried thoroughly.
• Clean the children after each meal, hands/clothes etc. Clean each child’s face with water or individually baby wipes.
Infant Formula
The following steps should be followed when
using powdered infant formula prepared at home::
Step 1 Feeds should be prepared at home using the 70°C preparation method recommended for the safe feeding of PIF in domestic setting (below).
Step 2 Cooled feeds should be marked with the child’s name and stored in the body of a refrigerator below 5°C until they are completely cold but no longer than 24 hours.
Step 3 Immediately prior to leaving for the child day-care facility, the correct number of feeds should be taken from the refrigerator and placed in a clean cool-box or bag with a suitable number of ice blocks to maintain the feed at 5°C.
Step 4 On arrival at the child day-care facility the feeds should be transferred from the coolbag or cool-box to a dedicated refrigerator in the child-care facility maintained at 5°C or below. The fridge should be equipped with a fridge thermometer to enable the temperature to be checked and adjusted if necessary.
Step 5 To feed, child-care workers should remove one bottle just before it is needed. The bottle should be checked to ensure the name on the bottle corresponds to the infant. The feed should then be warmed to feeding temperature using a bottle warmer or by standing the feed in a container of warm water. Never leave a feed warming for more than 15 min. Ensure the feed is not too hot by shaking the bottle and placing a drop of liquid on the inside of the wrist - it should feel luke-warm.
Step 6 Discard any feed that has not been consumed within two hours of preparation. For slow feeding babies use a fresh feed after two hours.
Step 7 Unused feed should be discarded and the used bottles rinsed in warm tap water.
Step 8 All feeding bottles should be returned at the end of the day when the infant is collected.
Step 9 Used feeding bottles should be cleaned and sterilised at home.
The following steps should be followed when
using powdered infant formula prepared by Play Together staff:
Step 1 Feeds should be prepared using the 70°C preparation method recommended on the formula container (Formula has to be provided in a oryginal container with child's name on it).
Step 2 The feed should then be cooled to feeding temperature using a cold water. Before serving ensure the feed is not too hot by shaking the bottle and placing a drop of liquid on the inside of the wrist - it should feel luke-warm.
Step 3 If feed is prepared in the morning and stored for the rest of the day cooled feeds should be marked with the child’s name and stored in the body of a refrigerator below 5°C until they are completely cold but no longer than 24 hours.
Step 4 To feed, child-care workers should remove child's bottle just before it is needed. The bottle should be checked to ensure the name on the bottle corresponds to the infant. The feed should then be warmed to feeding temperature by standing the feed in a container of warm water. Never leave a feed warming for more than 15 min. Ensure the feed is not too hot by shaking the bottle and placing a drop of liquid on the inside of the wrist - it should feel luke-warm.
Step 5 Discard any feed that has not been consumed within two hours of preparation.
Step 6 Unused feed should be discarded and the used bottles rinsed in warm tap water.
Step 7 All feeding bottles should be returned at the end of the day when the infant is collected. Used feeding bottles should be cleaned and sterilised at home.