Child Nutrition: Planning Balanced Meals and Ensuring Food Safety

This assignment delves into the critical aspects of child nutrition, emphasizing the importance of healthy eating habits, balanced meal planning, and stringent food safety practices. It begins by highlighting the dietary deficiencies prevalent in children, particularly the lack of essential nutrients like Omega-3 fatty acids and dietary fiber, and discusses the implications of these deficiencies, such as increased risks of obesity and related health issues. The assignment then outlines the Australian government's guidelines for healthy eating, emphasizing the five food groups and the significance of protein in children's diets for growth and development. It provides practical advice for parents on making mealtimes enjoyable and encouraging children to try new foods. Furthermore, the assignment explores the diseases caused by poor nutrition and provides age-specific dietary recommendations for infants, toddlers, and children, including advice on healthy snack choices and the benefits of breastfeeding. It also covers the importance of food labels in making informed food choices and provides guidance on creating a cycle menu that meets nutritional requirements while considering the age of the children. The assignment also addresses the importance of food safety standards, hygiene, and staff training within organizations to minimize the risks of food poisoning and ensure the health of children. It underscores the need to communicate food safety protocols effectively and to adhere to established hygiene practices in food handling and preparation. Finally, the assignment discusses the role of organizations in promoting healthy eating habits, including the avoidance of unhealthy ingredients and the implementation of diabetes-friendly meal plans, along with the importance of routine activities and the nutritional content of meals.

INTRODUCTION
Activity 1
1.
Yes it is fact that Australians eat too much fat food and they do not have enough dietary fibers.
Study shows that 70% children are not having enough Omega-3 polyunsaturated fat which is
essential for children for their brain and eye development. Apart from this 80% children do not
have dietary fiber that is essential for the body. That is the main reason that Austria has become
the country where number of obesity and diabetes, overweight patients are high in as compare to
other nations. Research found that ratio of Omega-6 and Omega-3 in Australian is only 8:1
which is not accurate.
2.
It is essential for the person to eat healthy diet so that individual can remain healthy. Government
of the Australia has made five food groups of healthy eating. These are as following:
Vegetables
Fruits
Lean meats, fish, egg, seeds, nuts
Dairy food (Milk, yoghurt cheese etc.)
Grain food, high cereal fibre varieties.
Different foods contains different nutrients. It is not possible for a person to eat all these
food items in the single day but individual needs to eat it in alternative days in order to live a
healthy life.
3.
Protein is essential part for human body, it gives strength to muscles, bones, hairs,
Harmon, blood etc. Children are in growing age so protein can help in repairing of cells and
providing energy as well. Physical injuries, chronic infection occur in the children body
frequently, protein can prevent them from these issue. Enough protein in the kids body can
enhance their immune system capacity. That prevent them from falling sick. Furthermore, it is
also essential for formation of cells and energy generation.
4.
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Parents are required to make mealtime pleasant for them. They are requited to sit with them at
the meal time. Positive conversation can help in create enjoyment for them. Making changes in
meal varieties can enhance interest of children for food. They can get bored from the same food
regularly thus, by making variety of food that include vegetables, grains, fruits can make the
meal enjoyable for them. Involvement of fun food activities can encourage children for trying
new foods. Involvement of one favourite dish of child can be supportive in enjoying mealtimes.
Make Mealtimes in Child Care Pleasant, Easy and Appealing, 2015.
http://articles.extension.org/pages/25781/make-mealtimes-in-child-care-pleasant-easy-and-
appealing
5.
Healthy food is the first requirement of human body in order to remain healthy. If
individual does not get proper nutrition then it may develop number of disease in the person.
Diabetes
Anaemia
Rickets
Scurvy
Beriberi
Diabetes cause if individual eats high fat in food, this increase cholesterol of the person
and individual can get suffer from diabetes. Scurvy causes due to lack of vitamin C in the food.
Anaemia is the disease in which blood plantlets of the person gets down and at the time of
monthly bleeding women high blood flow occurs.
Rickets takes place due to lack of Vitamin D in meal. Beriberi causes due to poor nutrition in
food.
List of Diseases Caused by Poor Nutrition, 2017. https://www.livestrong.com/article/291408-list-
of-diseases-caused-by-poor-nutrition/
Activity 2
1.
A. Infant aged one year.
It is the age in which children do not know about anything so parents need to give them
Milk as drink. Milk is better for their growth and muscles development. Furthermore, beans,
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Mash banana, iron fortified food need to be given to children those who are in infants aged one
year.
B. Toddlers aged two years
Doctors recommend babies of Toddlers age group to drink 2 cup of milk. It is beneficial
for their growth and gives strength to their muscles, bones. Furthermore, grain food such as rice,
corn, fruits, vegetables such as carrot etc. need to be given to children of that age.
C. Children aged five years
They need to drink a glass of fruit juice daily. It is better for their development. In
addition, children of 5-8 years are required to eat rice, eggs, vegetables.
Children aged 1 to 5 years, 2017. https://www.enjoyhealthyeating.info/nutrition/children-aged-1-
5-years
2.
Highly processed food is not good for the health of children. They are required to eat
unprocessed snake food. If they eat unprocessed snake food then they can remain healthy and
chance of occurrence of disease can be minimized. This includes Carrot, Tomato, salad etc. in
order to encourage children to eat unprocessed snake food parents are required to guide them and
make them aware with benefits of this food. Always do positive conversation with them so that
they take interest in eating of this food. Furthermore, parents are required to cook food at home
rather bringing children at hotels. This will help in identifying benefits of the food.
Encouraging Children to Eat Healthy Snacks, 2014.
https://www.cuddleschildcare.com.au/encouraging-children-to-eat-healthy-snacks/
3.
In the starting six months mothers are required to fed them their own milk, it is good for the
health of children. Importance of breastfeeding are as following:
 It helps in growth of baby for entire life.
 It provides all type of nutrition to baby that are required in this age.
 It protects from infection and other diseases.
Child service organizations promote breastfeeding because in the modern era women
those who have given birth to baby they do not feed their child which affect baby's health. Thus,
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this organization promote breastfeeding so that number of disease in young baby can be
minimized.
Recommended time to give solid food to children is in the age between 1-2 years. In this
age child becomes able to digest this solid food materials.
How breastfeeding benefits you and your baby, 2017. https://www.babycenter.com/0_how-
breastfeeding-benefits-you-and-your-baby_8910.bc
4.
Food labels are supportive material that helps in choosing safe and healthy food. It gives
detail about ingredients use in the food. In this food labelling serving size, protein, fat, sodium,
sugar, dietary fibre, energy etc. details are given. By learning reading food label individual can
purchase right material for children. It supports in cutting back such ingratiates that can harm
kids. By this way individual can be able to improve diet of their children.
Reading Food Labels - How Does It Help Buy Healthier Foods, 2012.
http://www.nourishinteractive.com/healthy-living/free-nutrition-articles/161-family-facts-
importance-reading-food-labels
5.
While preparing cycle menu for the children planner is required to ensure that each meal material
should contain nutritions in accurate amount. They need to take into consideration to the age of
children and according have to plan their menu. It is essential to consider that parents and
teachers have adequate knowledge about the nutrition and if they do not have then training needs
to be given so that they can follow the chart.
Bibliography
Nutrition and Menu Planning for Children in the Child Care Food Program, 2013.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/child-care-food-program/
nutrition/_documents/nmp-workbook-2013.pdf
It is essential to look upon routine activities of the person, their diet schedule and other activities
as well. Apart from this, it is essential to take into consideration to nutrients that are used by the
person while planning cycle menu.
Children menu plan
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Age 1-2 years 2-3 years 3-4 years
Fluid milk Half cup ¾ cup milk 1 cup
Lean meat 1OZ 1.5 OZ 2 OZ
Egg and proper solid
milk
½ ½ 1/2
6.
Menu for child
Menu for one day is as below intentioned:
Breakfast
 Milk- ½ cup for 1-2 year children, ¾ cup for 3-5 year kids
 Vegetables and fruits- ¼ cup for 1 to 2 year, ½ for 3-5 year kids
 Grains such as bread, biscuits- ½ slices for 1-2 year children and ½ slices for 3-5 years
kids.
Lunch
 Milk- ½ cup for 1-2 year children, ¾ cup for 3-5 year kids
 Vegetables and fruits- ¼ cup for 1 to 2 year, ½ for 3-5 year kids
 Grains such as bread, biscuits- ½ slices for 1-2 year children and ½ slices for 3-5 years
kids.
 Meat and egg, cheese, butter- 1 OZ for 1-2 year children, 1-5 OZ for 3-5 year kids
Snacks
 Yogurt boiled egg, Raisin/ oatmeal cookie milk, fruit Granola Bar water.
a. Milk, vegetables, grains are important for the growth of children. These meals items have
proper nutritions that is required by children for their development
b. These all material have rich protein which gives strength to muscle, bones of the children.
C. In order to make it attractive for children, parents can serve in some interesting manner. They
can draw some pictures like smily etc. on this food. Texture and colour needs to be good that can
attract children. There should be flavour of their favourite item so that they can eat with interest.
Bibliography
5

Nutrition and Menu Planning for Children in the Child Care Food Program, 2013.
http://www.floridahealth.gov/programs-and-services/childrens-health/child-care-food-program/
nutrition/_documents/nmp-workbook-2013.pdf
7.
Organization should not involve any meal item that contains sugar, cheese or fats. Apart from
this they need to involve such items that can be able to control over diabetes. Such as use of
brown bread etc. They need to include fruits in which no sugar contains. Green vegetables need
to be included in menu. Children need snacks in mid-morning and mid afternoon so that their
blood glucose level can remain in control.
Bibliography
What should I consider when making my child's diabetes meal plan?, 2015.
https://www.sharecare.com/health/caring-for-child-with-diabetes/what-consider-childs-diabetes-
meal
While making menu plan for child with diabetes, organization need to look upon the level of
cholesterol of the children. They should involve such meal into this menu that can support in
maintaining level of blood sugar in the kid. They need to involve vegetable because it has
enough fibre. Apart from this routine activities need to take into consideration to make menu
plan for child with diabetes.
Activity 3
1.
Authorities need to provide instruction to the staff members and need to make them aware with
food standards. Organization can upload copy of food act on its website so that employees can
get to know about food handling areas. It is responsibility of food industry that to give necessary
training to staff members so that they can perform their duties well. This training can support in
in identifying food and beverage principles and practices. These points can be communicated
through brochures, staff meetings, email, mentor discussion etc.
health and safety is considered as one of the effective tool that supports in developing
such environment so that health of the person can remain good. In order to communicate food
safety and compliance requirement and responsibilities to staff members' organization should
conduct meeting with them. In this meeting they need to make them aware with their
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responsibilities. Higher authorities are required to give training to staff members so that their
understanding can be developed and they can pay attention on health and safety while
performing their task.
Face to face meeting
Emails
Training etc. are great ways to communication.
2.
It is essential to follow food standards and hygiene at the workplace. Copies of these standards
and policies is being kept with human resource manager. Copies of these standards need to be
sign by all staff members so that they fulfil their responsibilities effectively.
3.
It is very important to follow high standard of food safety during handling and preparation of
food for young children. This includes washing of hands, using high quality ingredients, use of
sanitizers etc. This can support in minimizing chances of occurring food poising issue in
customers. It prevents children from falling down to sick. Furthermore, it is also important in
enhancing brand image of the company. Quality helps in enhancing brand image of the company.
If staff members are taking care of food standards then it can support in increase sales volume
and revenues of business top great extent.
4.
there are various conditions that increase chances of growing microorganism, food poisoning
bacteria. These are explained as below:
Food: It is the first condition, microorganism need nutrients to grow. They grow in dairy, meats,
eggs etc. types of food material.
Acidity: Ph factor is the most essential element that gives growth to microorganism. If ph factor
is between range of 7.5-4.6 then this microorganism tend to grow easily.
Temperature: temperature between 40-141 degree F is suitable for growth of microorganism.
Other temperature may not kill them but can reduce their growth rate.
Time: Microorganism can grow in food but they need adequate time for growing. Within four
hours growth of microorganism can be high.
Oxygen: It is another condition that gives chance of growing to microorganism.
Moisture: Some of the microorganism can grow in moistures, they can be hazardous for food.
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5.
At the time of cooking food it is essential to wear correct cloth, foot were. This helps in
minimizing chances of food contamination and harm to food maker. Expectation are as
following:
 Wearing apron, gloves, boots are essential while food handling and preparing.
This can help in preparing high quality food. If individual wears accessories then it
increases chances of growing microorganism.
Summative assessment 1
Question 1
1.
It is essential that child get proper nutrition, this plays significant role in their growth and
development. It is essential that children receive full of nutrition food and drinks,. Understanding
of nutrition requirements for children can major impact on care services and education because
they have to change their menu planning and have to design correct menu for kids. They need to
include vegetables, grains in food as per the age of the child. It helps in reducing growth of
microorganism in food, furthermore supports in providing high protein food to children that can
help in their growth and development.
Childcare and healthy eating, 2017.
http://ncac.acecqa.gov.au/family-resources/factsheets/nutrition.pdf
Question 2
Government has made several guidelines that apply to health of children from birth to 18
years. These are as following:
 The infant feeding guideline 2012, exclusive breastfeeding needs to be done.
Breastfeeding by mother to their new born baby for their growth and development.
 There should be growth check-up of children time to time on regular bases.
 Food offers to children need to have adequate amount of nutritions that are important for
development of the children.
 Properly prepare food and take care of food handling and storing aspects.
Biblography
8

GET UP and grow HEALTHY EATING AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY FOR EARLY
CHILDHOOD, 2009.
https://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/2CDB3A000FE57A4ECA257B
F0001916EC/$File/HEPA%20-%20B5%20Book%20-%20Staff%20and%20Carer
%20Book_LR.pdf
 Physical activity, have enough amount of nutritious in food.
 Involvement of five food groups in the daily food material.
 Limit using alcohol, saturated fat material in food.
 Properly prepare food and take care of food handling and storing aspects.
Question 3
NQF, NQS, EYLF are the essential frameworks. Copies of these frameworks can be accesses
from website of Australian government. NQF can be accessed from “ Australian Children's
education and care quality authorities.
In order to get relevant data, support and advice about these frameworks individual can
search on google and can access of government websites. Outcome from navigating EYLF are
as following:
 Children have strong sense of identity
 They are connected and contribute to world
 They have sense of well-being
 They are confident
 They are effective communicators
Question 4
United Nation Convention has prepared official document of the right of children. It has
described comments to children's rights. These are as following:
Aim of children
Role of human rights
Adolescent health
Freedom rights of children
Juvenile justice rights of children
Participation rights
Development rights
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Survival rights
United Nations Convention on the rights of child has come into existence in 1989. This explains
that children below the age 18 require special care and protection. In order to make this
framework success government of nation has worked to protected rights of children. This
explains that children need to get freedom and opportunities of expressing their views. Four core
principles of United convention on rights of child are as following:
 Non discrimination
 Giving respect to the views of children.
 Give them rights and development opportunities.
 Devotion to best interests
Question 5
There are many things that increase chances of food contamination in organization. These are as
following:
Use of expiry date ingredients in the food.
Improper hand washing while preparing food.
Unclean kitchen utensils
Poor storage
Food contamination is the issue that makes the food harmful and it creates issue among
individuals. If children have such contaminated food then health of the person can get badly
affected. Practices that might lead to food contamination are as following:
 Improper handling of food areas, unhealthy environment in kitchen.
 Unclean surface of food preparation.
 Lack of training to kitchen staff about food safety standards.
 Use of expiry ingredients.
 Improper hand washing, poor storage facility, poor temperature.
Question 6
Gastrointestinal upset is the condition in which stomach of the person gets badly affected. It
creates situation of excess gas, abnormal pain in stomach, etc. In such condition individual suffer
from vomiting, fever, headache, water diarrhoea. Thus, individual becomes unable to stand for
longer duration in kitchen. Thus, workers should not attend work if person is suffering from this
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