Newbies Food
Nutrition is important for health, and the developing child. At Newbies we wanted to make sure that meal times were a time that children enjoyed. In a early learning environment meal times can easily become chaotic, noisy and rushed, it then not only becomes a stressful time in the day for teachers, but also means that children feel hurried, and therefore don’t get time to enjoy the meal they have been given.
We found that allowing more time at meal times meant that children could eat at their own pace. We focused on smaller groups at the table to prevent a chaotic and noisy environment. We found that this made a much more relaxed setting in which children could have discussions around the table, and it became more of a family style approach to eating.
The children at Newbies love helping to prepare and serve morning/afternoon tea and lunches. It creates a sense of ownership as opposed to simply being handed a pre plated meal. Being given the choice of what they want to eat and how much involves participation, motor skills, language and social skills, plus a sense of independence. Having a teacher sit with the small group while they enjoy their meal has the added benefit of role modelling healthy eating habits.
Once meals are finished children take their own plates back to the kitchen. They put left over water from their cups into a bucket, and food scraps into a seperate bucket, which then feeds our worm farm and garden which so kindly produces food for us.
The babies at Newbies have their own special table with proper chairs (no high chairs). If they are unable to sit independently, they sit on a teachers knee.
Review Newbies Healthy Food Policy here.
We found that allowing more time at meal times meant that children could eat at their own pace. We focused on smaller groups at the table to prevent a chaotic and noisy environment. We found that this made a much more relaxed setting in which children could have discussions around the table, and it became more of a family style approach to eating.
The children at Newbies love helping to prepare and serve morning/afternoon tea and lunches. It creates a sense of ownership as opposed to simply being handed a pre plated meal. Being given the choice of what they want to eat and how much involves participation, motor skills, language and social skills, plus a sense of independence. Having a teacher sit with the small group while they enjoy their meal has the added benefit of role modelling healthy eating habits.
Once meals are finished children take their own plates back to the kitchen. They put left over water from their cups into a bucket, and food scraps into a seperate bucket, which then feeds our worm farm and garden which so kindly produces food for us.
The babies at Newbies have their own special table with proper chairs (no high chairs). If they are unable to sit independently, they sit on a teachers knee.
Review Newbies Healthy Food Policy here.