grow & thrive for families

Healthy eating
0– 5 years
Centre for Community Child Health February 2014

Healthy eating helps your child to get all the
energy and nutrients they need for health,
growth and development.
Healthy eating habits are also the best way to put your child
on the right track for a healthy, happy life.
The five food groups
Try to provide your child with a wide variety of foods each
day from the five food groups:
1. Vegetables
2. Fruit
3. Grain foods — mostly wholegrain
4. Milk, yoghurt, cheese and/or alternatives
5. Lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts, seeds
and legumes.
Try to eat fruit, vegetables and grain foods most of the time,
and moderate amounts of the other two food groups.
Discovering healthy eating
Help your child learn about healthy eating:
• Grow food together in a veggie patch, or herbs in a
windowsill box. No space? Join a community garden!
• P
 repare food together — the Dietitians Association of
Australia has yummy, healthy recipes: www.daa.asn.au/
for-the-public/smart-eating-for-you/recipes.
• Eat meals together as a family and inspire your child by
enjoying healthy food together.
• F ind your closest farmers’ market and chat
with experts about where food comes from:
www.farmersmarkets.org.au.
More information
You will find more helpful information on Raising Children
Network, www.raisingchildren.net.au and Australian
Dietary Guidelines, www.eatforhealth.gov.au.

If more help is needed please consult your family doctor

Tip
or an Accredited Practising Dietitian, www.daa.asn.au.
Foods with saturated fat, added salt and added sugar
are ‘occasional’. Things like chips, pizza, burgers and
lollies are best left for celebrations like birthday parties
rather than being regular treats.

Centre for Community Child Health

The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne
email publications.ccch@rch.org.au
www.rch.org.au/ccch/growthrive
ERC140161