Food and Nutrition
YMCA Child Care Services have qualified cooks employed at the services who provide nutritious food for all children attending. A weekly menu is displayed in the foyer for parents, staff and children to view. Pureed vegetables are provided for younger children and variations to the menu occur for children as required. If your child has a special dietary requirement, please ensure this is noted on the enrolment form and discussed with the Centre Manager.
We offer a healthy nutritious breakfast (Acacia Ridge only), morning tea, lunch and afternoon tea based on the five food groups. Parents are asked to provide one (1) piece of fruit a day and this is cut and shared between the children. Staff use meal times as an opportunity to discuss the nutritional content of the food provided. Children are given the opportunity to develop their self help skills through food preparation, service and are encouraged to use best practise in regards to food safety measures.
Staff aim to provide an eating environment that assists with the sharing of family and multicultural values. Staff aim to create an atmosphere which is calm and incorporates the teaching of appropriate social skills.
Meals
Our Centre provides a two course lunch prepared on the premises by our experienced cook. We also provide afternoon tea and milk for the children.
We ask parents to provide two pieces of fruit each day which is made into appetising fruit platters for morning tea.
The meals provided are carefully designed to supply a major part of each child’s daily nutritional requirements and to offer as wide a variety of flavours and textures as possible. Meals are nutritious and balanced, with an emphasis on introducing children to a variety of foods from our diverse cultures. We are a member of "Nutrition Australia Advisory Service". Regular updates of current research and information on nutrition give us valuable ideas to use at our centre.
Hot lunches are provided most days with sandwiches adding variety to the menu. Most desserts are based on dairy while afternoon tea can be cheese, crackers, dried fruit or fruit loaf.
Additional Dietary Requirements
YMCA staff will endeavour to provide assistance and support to any child with additional dietary requirements. Parents must
inform staff upon enrolment about such requirements and provide all necessary
information with the enrolment form. Discussion regarding meals will be made in consultation with parents and staff. Where food requirements cannot be met by the YMCA centre, parents and staff will develop strategies that will ensure the child receives appropriate snacks. The YMCA will also endeavour to meet the religious beliefs, regarding food for individual families.
Click here for Acacia Ridge menu sample. Click here for Strathpine menu sample.
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