When Parents are sending food from home, it's important that they understand they need to bring snacks and pack a lunch that is healthy and nutritious for their child. For some parents, who may be busy, it may be challenging to pack the right foods so it's vital that the service and families collaborate to promote healthy eating.

Victorian researchers have found that by the time a child turns three and a half, a quarter of children's energy intake was fueled by foods deemed too high in saturated fat or sugar to belong in the five healthy food groups.

In recent weeks, we informed you that research found that 95% of Early Childhood Services in Australia are feeding children incorrectly balanced meals and failing to meet NQS Requirements. A new online menu planning tool feedAustralia has now been developed in partnership with Healthy Australia available free to all Early Childhood Settings to ensure nutritional requirements are met for all children.

According to research by Healthy Australia and the University of Newcastle, it is found that 95% of early childhood centres are feeding children incorrectly balanced meals and only 5% met the complex dietary requirements of the NQS.

Your baby has just turned one…they are definitely growing up fast and it’s time to give a variety of different foods to your little one. From now on, the foods you give your baby during breakfast, lunch and dinner will begin to replace milk as the main source of nourishment. At this stage milk will only provide half the calories and nourishment needed for your growing baby.

What an exciting time... your baby is finally moving on from milk to solids. This is a crucial stage in your baby's development. From now on, the rapid growth and development of your baby requires more nutrients that milk alone cannot provide. It is also important to remember that starting on solids is an ongoing process where you have to pay special attention to any food allergy symptoms that your baby may present.