Healthy Choices for Children
We would like to engage the community and the local food industry in a program of providing healthy choices when:
- eating out;
- eating at school or daycare; and
- eating at home.
What are healthy choices?
Meals that have:
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Low Salt
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Low Fat |
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High Fibre
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Low Sugar |
One of the most important things to remember when preparing a healthy meal option is to use a range of fresh produce with a range of colours. A plate full of natural colour generally indicates a plate loaded with vitamins and minerals.
National Guidelines
Food For Health - Australian Guide for Healthy Eating.
How businesses can participate
Start off small – look at your menu for kids and check if there are small changes that can be made.
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Add some salad or vegetables
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Lots of colour and variety will make the dish more interesting |
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Change the type of cooking oils and spreads you use
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Use polyunsaturated oils such as vegetable, peanut, corn, safflower and cottonseed or monounsaturated margarines and oils such as olive, canola or sesame
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Try oven baking potatoes and steaming vegetables rather that deep frying and pan frying.
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Potatoes can be par-cooked in the microwave, cut in to wedges, sprayed with canola oil and baked in the oven. Vegetables can be steamed in the microwave to retain their colour and flavour
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Don’t add salt to dishes in the kids menu selection
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Use fresh herbs, spices, lemon or lime juice to season foods instead of salt |
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Use pulses, legumes and whole grains to add fibre to dishes
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Lentils, beans, chickpeas, couscous, buckwheat noodles, and rye, wholemeal or wholegrain bread rolls
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If you would like to participate in our recognition program please check your menu against the HC2 Participants Kit and use the application form at the end of the document. Contact us for further information on 9932 1000 or publichealth@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au.
Recipes
Breakfast/Brunch
Lunch/Dinner
Dessert
We would love your feedback on the Healthy Choices for Children (HC2) recipes. Please send us any suggestions you have for healthy recipes that kids will enjoy. Email publichealth@hobsonsbay.vic.gov.au or phone 9932 1000.