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It is important that children and young people get the best nutrition possible to ensure their health and wellbeing. Good nutrition can help children to: build healthy bodies and minds; stay alert in class and be energetic all day; maintain a healthy weight; and fight infections. The 2006 Healthy Kids Queensland Survey identified the following areas of concern:
This site provides a range of information and resources that may assist you in working with children and young people to improve their nutritional intake.
Australian Guide to Healthy Eating
A tool which can be used by health and education professionals, and the food industry, to promote good nutrition in their work. On the site you can find a consumer booklet, summary brochure and poster.
Dietary Guidelines
These guidelines have been developed to encourage healthy lifestyles and minimise the risk of diet-related diseases. You can also access:
Go for 2&5
It is important to eat a variety of fruit and vegetables every day. The amount of fruit and vegetables children need depends on age. This site contains recipes, fun resources and information on programs and projects.
Go for 2&5 resources are also available in print from the Queensland Health Publication Unit, phone: +61 7 3234 1053 or you can order online via the Queensland Health Bookshop.
Recommended daily intake of fruit and vegetables for children and adolescents
| Age of child (years) | Fruit (150g serves) | Vegetables (75g serves) |
| 4-7 | 1-2 | 2-4 |
| 8-11 | 1-2 | 3-5 |
| 12-18 | 3-4 |
4-9 |
Nutrition Australia
Nutrition Australia is an independent organisation that focuses on nutrition. The site has a range of nutrition resources and fact sheets.
Facts on Fat
Facts on Fat is a booklet outlining how to choose healthy fats, read food labels and adapt recipes for a healthy eating pattern.
(Available in print from the Queensland Health Publication Unit, phone: +61 73234 1053)
FOODcents
FOODcents is an education program that helps people achieve a healthy diet and save money on their grocery shop. It also shows that healthy eating does not have to be expensive. On the site you will find information on reading food labels, shopping smart and cooking simple and nutritious recipes.
Resources including Food Cents Shop Smart, Food Cents Kids Smart and Food Cents for a Family of Four are available in print from the Queensland Health Publication Unit, phone: 3234 1053.
Healthy Weight
This website brings together information from a range of government guidelines and sources to present healthy eating tips and information. The site also provides examples of healthy eating for people at various lifestages.
Breastfeeding
This site has a wide range of information and resources on breastfeeding. There are also specific resources dedicated to supporting breastfeeding for the first 12 months.
Nutrient Reference Values (NRV's)
The NRV's are a set of recommendations for nutritional intake based on currently available scientific knowledge.
Food Safety Matters
Food safety matters is a teaching and training resource on how to handle food safely at home, school and work.
Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ)
This site includes a wide range of information on the Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code. On the site you can find fact sheets, publications and consumer information, including information on allergies, caffeine and intolerances.
Need for Feed
A high school cooking program that focuses on improving participants' food preparation and cooking skills and basic nutrition knowledge.
Home Economics Institute of Australia (QLD)
This website has a range of resources to support food and nutrition education in Queensland schools. The site also provides information on the Home Economics curriculum.
A youth worker's guide to nutrition for young people
The guide brings together a wide range of topical nutrition-related issues for young people. It contains information on meal plans, cultural food considerations, body image, alcohol and drugs and dietary advice.
Eating Disorders Association Inc Queensland (EDA)
This site provides information, support and referral services for people affected by eating disorders. EDA has a range of information packs and frequently asked questions which you may find useful.
Promoting Positive Body Image
An introduction to the Everybody's Different resource. This focuses on a positive approach to teaching about health, puberty, body image, nutrition, self-esteem and obesity prevention. The full resource is available to order from this form.
Great lunches and snacks for hungry kids
This fact sheet has ideas for nutritious snacks from the five food groups, rather than extra foods.
Available in print from the Queensland Health Publication Unit, phone: +61 73234 1053
Healthy Jarjums make Healthy Food Choices
A resource developed to assist early childhood professionals implement activities to improve nutrition and to contribute to embedding Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives in the early year's curriculum.
Queensland Kids Fresh Net
The Queensland Kids Fresh Net (QKFN) program encourages school children to make healthy eating choices and live active lifestyles. The program targets children, their parents, teachers and tuckshop conveners. QKFN includes school presentations and market tours, resources and promotions for tuckshops and teachers, and website information and activities.
Stephanie Alexander Kitchen Garden National Program
The focus of the Program is for primary school students to learn how to grow, harvest, prepare and share fresh food in the belief that this approach will provide a better chance of positively influencing children's food choices.
Smart Choices: Healthy Food and Drink Supply Strategy for Queensland
Contains information about this strategy and additional resources such as frequently asked questions, fact sheets, and other useful resources for school communities.
Food for Sport - A guide to healthy food and drink supply in sporting clubs.
A six step guide to implementing healthy food and drink supply in sporting clubs.
Queensland Association of School Tuckshops (QAST)
Includes information on QAST's activities, including support for implementation of Smart Choices in tuckshops.
Healthy and Active School Communities Kit
A resource kit for schools, that includes case studies from other schools, to assist those trying to promote physical activity and healthy eating.
Nutrition Australia
Nutrition Australia is an independent organisation that focuses on nutrition. The site has information on Food Smart Schools, Outside School Hours Care and Healthy Clubs Qld.
Physical Activity and Nutrition Outside School Hours (PANOSH)
A series of resources to assist out of school hours facilities to promote healthy eating and physical activity.
Eat Smart Play Smart
This resource contains information about healthy eating, food safety, specific nutrition related diseases (e.g. diabetes, food allergies), physical activity and useful resources and organisations.
The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Guide to Healthy Eating
A fact sheet outlining the Guide to Healthy Eating for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people on how to be healthy, eat better and move more.
Eat well tips for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
A fact sheet for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on how to incorporate foods that 'help you feel better everyday'.
Breastfeeding
This site has a wide range of information and resources on breastfeeding for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities.
Living Strong Healthy Lifestyle Cookbook
This cookbook provides a variety of healthy recipe ideas and some traditional cooking. The recipes are provided to encourage people to use more vegetables, fruit, lean meat and fish to make quick and easy nutritious meals.
What to Eat - Staying Healthy and Active
This document aims to raise awareness of the importance of healthy eating and physical activity, targeting indigenous families.
The Health of Queenslanders 2010: Third Report of the Chief Health Officer Queensland
This report details the state's most widespread diseases and injuries and their impact on the health system, the community and the individual.
Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey 2007
This report contains the main findings of the 2007 Australian National Children's Nutrition and Physical Activity Survey and provides a snapshot of key health indicators of Australian children, namely nutrient intakes, body measurements and physical activity levels.
Nutritional Community Survey on TV food advertising to Children 2007
This survey was designed to determine community perceptions of television food advertising to children and provide support for the strengthening of regulations.
Healthy Kids Queensland Survey 2006
This survey provides important data to help plan, develop and implement effective policies and programs to improve young Queenslanders' dietary and physical activity behaviour, and to achieve healthy weight.
Eat Well Queensland
Eat Well Queensland is intended for a professional audience, including policy makers, in government and non-government organisations and industry, to provide an evidence-based multisectoral strategic approach to improving the health and wellbeing of Queenslanders through better food and nutrition. The structure of the Eat Well Queensland document reflects the interrelated nature of food, nutrition, health issues and their determinants.
In 2008, a comprehensive mid-point review of the Eat Well Queensland strategy was conducted, addressing achievements so far and produced the report Eat Well Queensland: Are we half way there yet? Mid-Point Implementation Review Summary of Findings.
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