Healthy Food for Winter
See how a Sydney childcare provider is boosting early learners’ immune systems, one bite at a time!
BY HEJIRA CONVERY, KINDICARE
Sniffles, coughs and sore throats are common in the cooler months, and although good food won’t always keep childcare illnesses away, eating well can boost the immune system to help little bodies fight off those pesky winter lurgies.
Research tells us that edibles, like leafy greens, fruits, eggs, milk, garlic, onion and turmeric can enhance the immune system’s function.
And when we drill down further, there’s evidence that specific foods, like oranges, clementines, grapefruits, lemons, red capsicum, broccoli, spinach, kiwi fruit and ginger can be particularly powerful allies when ailments are about.
That said, there’s a whole range of healthy foods that are packed with body-boosting vitamins and minerals; and whether the days are grey, or the sun’s out, it’s important for all ages to eat a rainbow of diverse, nutritious food – both at home and away.
Quality early learning services are on board with this.
They make an effort to put good ingredients in little tummies, and one provider that’s deeply focused on healthy food, is Orchard Early Learning Centre.
Orchard ELC has centres in Kirrawee, St Ives and Austral, with four more coming soon, and they’re not called ‘Orchard ELC’ for nothing!
They have a real passion for fresh, nutritious, seasonal and diverse food, which is either grown on-site or sourced carefully, and Orchard ELC’s menu changes day-by-day and with the seasons, to keep early learners as healthy as possible.
Orchard ELC’s Group Executive Chef, Tawnya Bahr, is currently launching their winter menu, and even if you aren’t located near an Orchard centre, their approach to nutrition is still food for thought.
To inspire your childcare choice (and home cooking), here are six ways that Tawnya and her team are safe-guarding under-fives’ health with their winter menu:
1. They’re serving up a lot of colour.
Orchard ELC sees the big benefits of rainbow eating, and they’ve got all the colours covered!
Tawnya explains that, “Our winter menu includes plenty of orange and yellow citrus, including oranges, mandarins, grapefruits and yuzu, which are packed with Vitamin C.
“We’re also including those green vegetables, like kale, broccoli and broccolini; and white foods, like cauliflower and potatoes, which we grow on-site, plus lots of garlic, which has anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties.”
Tawnya says, “Foods that are purple or dark red are great to incorporate into menus, so we’re using beetroot, eggplant, red cabbage, red and purple capsicums. And last month, we introduced the children to the flavour and texture of Australian-grown pomegranates, which are full of vitamins.”
2. They’re focused on diversity.
As well as serving different coloured foods, the Orchard ELC team also serves a broad spectrum of food varietals and food group types.
This means that instead of just serving ‘oranges,’ they’ll offer blood oranges one day and Valencias the next, educating children about them as they go; and they don’t stick to the same proteins and carbs, or predictable recipes.
Tawnya says, “We serve a diverse menu that’s well-balanced, but interesting, and we don’t stay in one lane or stay too safe.
“Although the children love a good chicken noodle soup, classic Bolognese and buttered wholegrain roll, they also love our Singapore noodles, samosas, laksa and lamb curry.”
There are plenty of vegetarian meals on offer, and Tawnya says, “We use a lot of legumes, including lentils, chickpeas and black beans, which are really nutritious.
“Our cocoa and black bean brownies are hugely popular with the kids. And they also love our cauliflower popcorn, which is coated in egg white and spices, then oven-baked.”
3. Orchard ELC sources the freshest food possible.
Tawnya explains that, “When it is fresh, in season and close to the source, food is loaded with more nutrients,” and although they can’t grow enough to feed their centres entirely, Orchard ELC always has something growing on-site, including eggs!
When they are buying food, Orchard ELC is very selective about their suppliers.
Tawnya says, “We support the communities our centres are in, and ensure that our centres are celebrating the same ingredients at the same time.
“Right now, clementines and persimmons are immune-boosting and very plentiful, so we’re focusing on them at Orchard ELC.”
4. All food is expertly prepared.
Tawnya takes great care writing the menus and recipes, and magic then happens in Orchard ELC’s commercial kitchens.
Orchard’s qualified chefs prepare the recipes using quality ingredients that are loaded with natural nutrition and flavour; and Tawnya explains that, “In winter, we like to serve braises and slow-cooked dishes where we can lock in the nutrients and amplify the layers of flavour.”
Orchard ELC’s in-centre chefs are very skilled, and Tawnya says, “Their professional kitchen experience and dedication to their craft makes all the difference.
“The objective is to lock in those nutrients to ensure the children get every skerrick of goodness we can possibly give them. And, of course, the visual appeal is kept front of mind. We eat with our eyes, so we put effort into making the food look good too.”
5. They actively seek food feedback.
There’s no nutritional value in food that doesn’t get eaten, so Orchard ELC’s chefs pay close attention to what comes back and what doesn’t, and they regularly go into the rooms to do cooking demonstrations.
This piques the children’s interest in new foods (like surprisingly purple heirloom carrots), and the team regularly ‘talks food’ with families.
Tawnya says, “At Orchard ELC, we take pride in hosting informative family sessions about our new seasonal and nutritional menus. And this week, we’ve been talking with parents about introducing the children to kalettes.
“A kalette is a cute cross between a Brussels sprout and kale, which has just come into season, and everyone is keen for us to pop them in the oven and serve them as highly nutritious snacks, like kale chips.”
6. They’re genuinely invested in children’s health.
The team understands that nutritious food isn’t just about warding off winter lurgies.
Good food supports children’s healthy learning and development in their crucial first five years, and Tawnya says, “Our whole menu is about feeding children’s bodies good, clean, super delicious, seasonal food.
“Each menu is dietitian-approved to ensure it contains all the nutrients growing bodies need, and we go above and beyond to ensure that the children eat well, drink plenty of water, and get the rest and physical activity they need for good health.”
Orchard ELC’s all weather play approach also helps to boost children’s immune systems, and they have procedures in place to limit the spread of illness.
Hands, toys and surfaces are kept clean; cough and sneeze etiquette is practiced; and sick people are encouraged to stay home when they have ‘catchy’ illnesses.
So, while it’s pretty much impossible for any childcare centre to totally avoid winter lurgies, Orchard ELC definitely does its best to boost young immune systems and share the benefits of a considered and tasty menu!