Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) settings (also known as preschools, kindergartens, long day care, family-based care) are ideal places for health promotion. Children that attend ECEC settings, typically consume over half of their daily food intake while attending these settings, providing an excellent opportunity to promote healthy eating. ECECs can play a key role in creating healthy nutrition environments in a number of ways, including by having a comprehensive healthy food policy, providing healthy food and beverages, and delivering an appropriate nutrition curriculum.
| Indicator | Result | Previous | Assessment* | What was measured? | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Healthy food policy |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services with a written nutrition policy that met all policy criteria** |
37% |
Presence of a written nutrition policy which met all policy criteria in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=523) |
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Proportion of family day care service providers with a written nutrition policy that met all policy criteria*** |
69% |
Presence of a written nutrition policy which met all policy criteria in a sample of New South Wales family day care service providers (n=16) |
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Availability of recommended food |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing at least one serve of fruit per day for children aged 0-2 years |
92% |
Provision of at least one serve of fruit to children aged 0-2 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=114) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing at least one serve of fruit per day for children aged 2-6 years |
99% |
Provision of at least one serve of fruit to children aged 2-6 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=114) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing at least one serve of vegetables per day for children aged 0-2 years |
94% |
Provision of at least one serve of vegetables to children aged 0-2 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=413) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing at least two serves of vegetables per day for children aged 2-6 years |
67% |
Provision of at least two serves of vegetables to children aged 0-2 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=413) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing water to children aged 2-6 years |
97% |
Provision of water to children aged 2-6 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=525) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Proportion of family day care services providing water to children aged 2-6 years |
99% |
Provision of water to children aged 2-6 years in a sample of family day care services in New South Wales (n=174) |
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Availability of non-recommended food |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing sugar-sweetened beverages to children aged 2-6 years |
1% |
Provision of sugar-sweetened beverages to children aged 2-6 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=525) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing discretionary food items† |
82% |
Provision of discretionary food items to children aged 2-6 years in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=412) |
Unpublished data from 2021-22 national survey |
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Education around nutrition |
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Proportion of centre-based ECEC services providing various healthy eating education‡ to children weekly |
28% |
Provision of various healthy eating education to children in a sample of Australian centre-based ECEC services (n=500) |
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Proportion of family day care services providing intentional learning experiences about healthy eating at least two times per week |
59% |
Provision of intentional learning experiences about healthy eating at least two times per week in a sample of family day care services in New South Wales (n=174) |
* Green = ‘Promotes health’; Amber = ‘Needs further improvement to promote health’; Red = ‘Unhealthy’. Refer to Indicator Assessment Criteria at the bottom of the page.
** Policy criteria include: strategies are in place to ensure that foods provided by families is consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (lunchbox services only); food provided by the service is consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (menu services only); food isn’t used as a reward or incentive for children; educators role model healthy food and drink choices; creating healthy mealtime environments; educator practices to encourage healthy eating; planned and informal nutrition education for children; professional development on child nutrition; guidelines for foods offered during holidays and celebrations.
*** Policy criteria include: strategies are in place to ensure that foods provided by families is consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (lunchbox services only); food provided by the service is consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines (menu services only); food isn’t used as a reward or incentive for children; educators role model healthy food and drink choices.
† Discretionary foods (according to the Australian Dietary Guidelines) are foods which are not essential for our health. They are characterised by being high in saturated fat, added sugars, and/or salt. Examples include processed meats, sweet biscuits, chocolate and chips.
‡ Healthy eating education may include: planned healthy eating education; interactive, experiential healthy eating activities; intentional exposure to different vegetables as part of experiential learning; and/or play based healthy eating activities.
Key Findings
- Most Australian ECEC services do not have a comprehensive nutrition policy.
- The majority of ECEC services provide healthy foods in line with recommendations, and almost all ECEC services provide beverages in line with recommendations
- However, many ECEC services also provide unhealthy foods, which are not recommended for a healthy diet.
Key Recommendations
- ECEC services should be healthy places. They play an important role in developing children’s knowledge and habits relating to food. ECEC services also shape social norms and so provide an opportunity to improve children’s diets.
- There is a need for additional support and stronger incentives for ECEC services to adopt comprehensive nutrition policies and reduce the provision of unhealthy foods.
For more information
Websites / Organisations
Journal articles
- Lum M, Grady A, Wolfenden L, Lecathelinais C, Yoong SL. Implementation of healthy eating and physical activity practices in Australian early childhood education and care services: A cross-sectional study. Prev. Med. Rep., 2023; 102455. doi: 10.1016/j.pmedr.2023.102455
- Lum M, Grady A, Falkiner M, Jones J, Finch M, Green S, Herrmann V, Hall A, Yoong SL. Assessing the implementation of healthy eating and physical activity policies and practices in the family day care setting: A cross-sectional study. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. 2021; 32(S2): 116-25. doi:10.1002/hpja.420
| Indicator Assessment Criteria | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Metric | |||
Proportion of services with a written nutrition policy that met all policy criteria |
≥80% |
20-79% |
<20% |
Proportion of services providing sufficient services of fruit and vegetables per day for children aged 2-6 years |
≥80% |
20-79% |
<20% |
Proportion of services providing sufficient services of fruit and vegetables per day for children aged 6-24 months |
≥80% |
20-79% |
<20% |
Proportion of services providing water to children aged 2-6 years |
≥80% |
20-79% |
<20% |
Proportion of services providing sugar-sweetened beverages to children aged 2-6 years |
<10% |
10-29% |
≥30% |
Proportion of services providing discretionary food items |
<10% |
10-29% |
≥30% |
Proportion of services providing various healthy eating education to children weekly |
≥80% |
20-79% |
<20% |