Healthy Food and Drink Guidance - Early Learning Services

Overview

Healthy Active Learning is a new Wellbeing Budget initiative that will promote and improve healthy eating and physical activity in schools, kura and early learning services across Aotearoa.

The Ministry of Health (the Ministry) is currently drafting ‘Healthy Food and Drink Guidance for Early Learning Services’ (the Guidance) as part of this initiative and is seeking your input.

The Guidance will represent the Ministry’s recommended advice for food and drink available in early learning services. It is likely to include a plain milk and water-only policy, and advice on the types and portion sizes of foods available. The Ministry has consulted with nutrition experts and relevant stakeholders in developing this Guidance.

The Guidance will update healthy eating advice for early learning services. It has been informed by the following documents:

1. Food and nutrition for healthy, confident kids
2. National Healthy Food and Drink Policy for District Health Boards
3. Health Star Rating
4. advice in other jurisdictions i.e. international settings.

Why your views matter

 It is envisaged that the Guidance will be considered by Early Learning Services, and adapted as appropriate to the local context in consultation with staff, parents and others. Adoption and/or adaptation of the Guidance will be up to individual centres.

We value your knowledge of the education sector, and invite you to provide input in developing the Guidance, via a short questionnaire.