Eat well
Key messagesFor babies, toddlers and children to achieve good oral health, eating a healthy well-balanced diet is important. To achieve this it is recommended that:
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See ‘Eat well’ section in Healthy Little Smiles resource kit
Learning experiences
Share messages about Eat well routinely with children
Talking points for children
- You need food to help your body grow, play and think. Just like a car needs petrol to move you need food to help you move.
- ‘Everyday’ foods can be eaten everyday because they are good for you. They give you energy so you can grow, play and think.
- ‘Everyday’ foods are fresh fruit, cheese, vegetables, sandwiches and soups.
- ‘Sometimes’ foods have a lot of sugar.
- Sugar can make holes in your teeth and make them sore.
- ‘Sometimes’ foods are lollies, biscuits, cakes, chocolate, muesli bars.
Messages adapted from NSW Little Smiles. Dental Health Resource Package for Childcare Professionals, NSW Department of Health www.health.nsw.gov.au
Educators can support this through
- Storytelling and narratives – For example, stories about healthy food, shopping, markets, gardening and cooking and picture books of foods from other cultures
- Music – For example, sing songs about healthy food
- Role play – For example, going to the market to select and buy healthy food
- Everyday conversations
-For example, ask where does my food come from? (topics can include: gardening, food production, growing fruit and vegetables, farming, markets, baking and cooking)Talk about healthy eating and what foods are healthy, and ‘why am I hungry’? Teach children that our bodies need healthy food for fuel to help it work properly and make us feel good. - Demonstrating – For example, growing fruit and vegetables, have a selection of fruit and vegetables for children to touch, smell and see. Give a demonstration of how much sugar is in foods and snacks
- Exploring foods – include a variety of foods for children to explore. What colour is that fruit or vegetable (identifying foods and colours)? Counting fruits and vegetables (numeracy) and teach children the names of different healthy foods (speech development)
Online resources and websites
Books
Suggested oral health story books for early childhood services
Dental Health Services Victoria website: www.dhsv.org.au
Your local librarian or book shop may have more ideas for children’s books about teeth
Songs
Munch & Move songs
Healthy Kids website: www.healthykids.nsw.gov.au
List of different coloured fruit and vegetables
Eat a rainbow
Nutrition Australia website: www.nutritionaustralia.org
Engaging families
Support families to encourage Eat well through
- Meaningful discussions
- Give out tip sheets
- Information in your newsletter
- Display information in your foyer and/or noticeboard
- Provide information at enrolment
- Role modelling good oral health behaviours
Online resources and websites
Newsletter article
'Eat well article' in Oral health newsletter inserts for Early Childhood Services
Dental Health Services Victoria website: www.dhsv.org.au
Meal and snack recipes
Healthy Eating Advisory Service (HEAS) website: http://heas.health.vic.gov.au
Tip sheets
Sugar in Snack Foods Sugar in Breakfast Foods Food and Active Play in the first year of life Healthy Eating and Play for toddlers aged 1–2 Healthy Eating and Play for kindergarten children | 
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How to read food labels
Eat For Health website: www.eatforhealth.gov.au
FOODcents
Information to help families achieve a healthy diet and to save money on their grocery shop
Department of Health WA website: http://www.foodcentsprogram.com.au
For the Aboriginal community
Healthy Smiles for under 5
NSW Health website: www.health.nsw.gov.au
Tucker talk tip cards for Aboriginal families
VACCHO website: www.vaccho.org.au
Healthy, deadly lunch boxes! VACCHO
Eat for Health: Dietary guidelines for all Australians (Indigenous) – Poster
Eat For Health website: www.eatforhealth.gov.au
Professional practice and organisational policies
Develop policies and procedures
Outline your commitment to oral health, including healthy food and drink, preventive approaches and access to dental care in your organisation’s policies.
A policy document provides clear, consistent information for all staff and carers working with children, as well as for parents and families. Thorough policies can demonstrate a commitment to healthy eating and oral health, and ensure a high quality of practice.
Sample policy: Healthy eating and oral health sample policy
Healthy Together Victoria Achievement Program website: http://www.achievementprogram.health.vic.gov.au/early-childhood-services
Policy statements to consider
Celebrations
Food offered at celebrations should be in line with the healthy food and drink and oral health policies and healthy alternatives to birthday cake and other treats provided
Use celebrations to model healthy treat foods or celebrate without food such as a special activity or tradition.
Birthday cakes and other treats are just one way of celebrating a special occasion or culturally significant occasion. Celebrate with an activity to further develop a child’s understanding of the occasion:
- Encouraging families to provide non-food items such as balloons, bubbles and stickers instead of lolly bags
- Telling a special story, singing and dancing, lighting and blowing out candles, a group show and tell, wearing a special hat or outfit for the day
Healthy fundraising ideas
Look at healthy alternatives for fundraising such as selling herbs and seeds, fruit and vegetable drives, toothbrush drives, raffles or a second hand book stall.
Healthy Fundraising Ideas to Promote Health While Still Making a Profit
Cancer Council website: http://www.cancercouncil.com.au
Create a healthy environment
The Healthy Together Healthy Eating Advisory Service provides advice on nutrition and healthy eating to early childhood education and care services, outside school hours care.
Healthy Eating Advisory Service website: http://heas.health.vic.gov.au/early-childhood-services/menu-planning
FoodChecker is the new online way to plan healthy menus that meet the Menu planning guidelines. FoodChecker is brought to you by the Healthy Eating Advisory Service, which is delivered by Nutrition Australia Vic Division and supported by the Victorian Government.
Get started today at http://foodchecker.heas.health.vic.gov.au
Online resources and websites
Infant Feeding Guidelines, NHMRC website
https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines
Australian Dietary Guidelines, NHMRC website
https://www.eatforhealth.gov.au/guidelines
