Merri Community Childcare Centre and Kindergarten Inc. has been previously awarded with Start Right Eat Right Award as well as the Kids – Go for your life Award. These programs have now been superseded with the Healthy Together Victorian Achievement Program. Our Centre is currently working towards achieving the Healthy Together Victorian Achievement Program.
The aim of this achievement program is to provide increased access to, and availability of, healthy food choices consistent with the Australian Dietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents. As per the Centre policy we provide safe and nutritious food to children that are healthy and balanced. As a centre we place great emphasis on whole foods as well as fresh foods. The centre is therefore committed to providing safe and nutritious food to children; by providing a healthy balanced diet with an emphasis on whole foods as well as fresh food.
A cook is employed to prepare a cooked lunch for the children on the premises. Sugar, salt and preservatives are avoided where possible in food preparation. Meals and snacks from a range of cultures are provided. The weekly menu is displayed in the foyer on the television and outside the Kitchen for families to read. The meals change daily with a twelve-week rotating schedule. Families are welcome to browse through the centre menu planner.
- Breakfast is served daily to children up to 8.00 am
- Morning tea usually fruit in season and is served at 9 am.
- Lunch is served from 10.45 am – 11 am.
- Afternoon tea is served about 3pm. Afternoon tea can be a variety of foods such as fresh fruit, sandwiches, dips and bread etc.
Fresh water, cow’s milk and soymilk are available to children throughout the day and during meal times. Families are required to provide breast milk if their child/children are being breast-fed alternatively breastfeeding parents that reside or work in the area are more than welcome to drop in and breast-feed their baby whilst in care.
Bottles with cooled boiled water must be provided for children that are on formula. Pre-measured servings of formula powder must be clearly labelled and accompany all bottles.
It is highly recommended that all children have their own individual drink bottle/or cup with spout or straw, dishwasher safe only drink bottles preferred. Drink bottles ensure easy accessibility to fluids throughout the day and discourage cross contamination. Please remember to label your child/children’s drink bottles clearly.
Please ensure that you inform educators of any allergies or diet restrictions your child may have by completing and returning the food forms. Please also ensure that you update lodged forms when your child turns 1 or when their dietary needs or diet restrictions change. Information should include a list of safe foods and foods to be avoided, the symptoms resulting from the allergy and the remedies and precautions to be taken as well as attaching a current action plan.
Merri aims to be a nut free zone. As part of risk minimisation, we ask families not to send your child with any product that contains nuts or traces of nuts and ask you to declare and or remove all food products from their child’s bag upon entering the centre. Please login to read Merri’s attached Anaphylaxis Policy as Anaphylaxis is the most acute and serious form of Allergy.
Food Safety Plan
Merri Community Childcare Centre & Kindergarten Inc. prepares, stores, and cooks food in accordance with the Food Act. The centre maintains a Food Safety Program and registration with the City of Darebin. Most early childhood educators are trained in safe food handling practices. The Health Department (City of Darebin) conducts regular spot checks. An independent food safety inspector also conducts independent audits. These reports are submitted to council for approval.
Birthdays
Birthdays are very important in a child’s life and we like to make them as enjoyable as possible. If families wish for their child/children to celebrate their birthday at the centre they are requested to supply a bought birthday cake with a receipt. This policy and procedure are necessary to comply with the Food Safety Act. We do not accept lollies, chips, or sweets etc. OR cakes with nuts or alcohol. Alternatively, if you did not wish to bring in a cake then you are more than welcome to bring in a fruit platter.
Baby Milk Bottles
Bottles with cooled boiled water must be provided for children that are on formula. Pre-measured servings of formula powder must be clearly labelled in pre-dose sealed container and accompany all bottles.
Drink Bottles
It is highly recommended that all children have their own individual drink bottle/or cup with spout or straw. Drink bottles ensure easy accessibility to fluids throughout the day and discourage cross contamination. Please remember to label your child’s drink bottles clearly.
Food Safety Plan
Merri Community Childcare Centre & Kindergarten Inc. prepares, stores, and cooks food in accordance to the Food Act. The centre maintains a Food Safety Program and registration with the City of Darebin. Most staff are trained in safe food handling practices. The Health Department (City of Darebin) conducts regular spot checks. An independent food safety inspector also conducts independent audits. These reports are submitted to council for approval.
Food Forms
We ask you to read and complete all the relevant food forms relating to your child’s dietary requirements and nutritional needs.
If there has been any changes or updates to your child’s dietary needs or in their food requirements, please complete the food forms via the Jotform platform as soon as possible as follows
Food Information Form for Children aged over one https://form.jotform.com/MerriCCCKInc/-food-form-for-children-aged-over-1
Food Information Form for children aged under one https://form.jotform.com/MerriCCCKInc/under1foodform
Nutrition and Meals cover sheet for your information https://form.jotform.com/MerriCCCKInc/nutritionmeals
Food Information Survey – Anaphylaxis/Allergy/Intolerance https://form.jotform.com/MerriCCCKInc/anaphylaxisallergyintolerance-food
Please note that we must have a written copy of current food requirements, including anaphylaxis, allergies and in tolerances.
If you have any questions regarding any of the above information please do not hesitate to speak with the centre cook and or your child’s room educators.
