Kai

We value meal times as a time to come together.

Kai time is an opportunity to help to strengthen the relationship between child and teacher, a time to build trust and get to know one another. During mealtimes we provide children with real equipment, glass jars and china plates. Independence and self-help is promoted. We value this time of dining together and follow the cues of the child. When we are in tune we can see when the child is telling us they are done.

Packed lunches are brought from home. They include what families wish to include in their child’s menu. We have amazing discussions about what each other has in their lunch, tips and tricks on how to open different packaging, how we recycle the packaging, trips to the work farm afterwards.

We have fridges at the centre to store children’s meals, and we heat up some wonderful ‘left overs’ from last nights dinner too.

We focus on healthy eating and provide families with the below information to support safe and healthy fod provision:

Ministry advised guidance documents which support our meal provision and guidance to parents:

Guidance: MOH ~ Reducing food related choking for babies and young children at early learning services
https://www.health.govt.nz/publication/reducing-food-related-choking-babies-and-young-children-early-learning-services

Guidance: Choking, What to Do.
https://www.kidshealth.org.nz/choking-what-do

Guidance: Eating for Babies and Toddlers
https://www.healthed.govt.nz/resource/eating-healthy-babies-and-toddlersng%c4%81-kai-t%c5%8dtika-m%c5%8d-te-hunga-k%c5%8dhungahunga