Nutrition
BestStart is focused on creating healthy eating habits with our tamariki.
In centres providing meals, cooks prepare healthy, nutritious, and delicious dishes, with menus tailored to the community and incorporating children’s cultures.Children have opportunities to try new cuisines and dishes, broadening their taste buds and discovering new favourite dishes.
Many BestStart centres hold the Tohu Manawa Ora Healthy Heart Award for supporting healthy eating and physical activity for children and families. These awards can be seen on relevant centre pages, under ‘what we are proud of’.
Through the Set for School programme, centres with meals may hold "lunchbox days" to give children experience in how to unwrap foods and how much to eat at morning tea versus lunch breaks.
Not all centres provide meals. Some offer morning and afternoon tea, plus a late snack, while parents supply lunch; others require all meals to be brought from home, with an emphasis on healthy lunchbox options.
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