Goodstart Early Learning Linden Park is the 200th child care centre in South Australia to receive a Start Right-Eat Right Nutrition Award.

As part of the Start Right-Eat Right program, which started in 2001, child care centre cooks and directors receive accredited training in nutrition and all staff are trained in food hygiene.

This training helps the centres to provide a menu which meets 50 percent of a child’s daily nutrition requirements.

“I am really pleased to present the 200th Start Right-Eat Right nutrition award and to see how far this fantastic program has come since the pilot was started in Adelaide’s south more than 10 years ago,” Mr Hill said.

“Good nutrition is vitally important in the early years as it assists with growth, development, good health and the academic performance of our children.

“In South Australia, 19 percent of children aged 4 and 5 are overweight or obese, a disturbing fact that we have a duty to address.

“The Government funds a wide range of programs, including this one, to promote good nutrition and activity for families and prevent obesity.

“There are currently more than 34,000 children in child care centres across the State, so there is huge potential for Start Right-Eat Right to have a positive impact on early childhood nutrition.”

“At least 89 percent of the state’s 344 child care centres have participated in Start Right-Eat Right training, with 200 – about 60 percent – now having received the nutrition award.

“Early childhood is one of the State Government’s seven key areas of focus as every child needs the chance to get off to a great start.

“I strongly urge all the long day childcare centres that haven’t yet taken up the chance to get involved in this scheme to register for Start Right Eat Right training,” Mr Hill said.

For media enquires please contact Ruth Awbery on 0428 822 114

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