One way to show children care and respect is to sit down and talk with them at snack time or lunch time. This helps to create a relaxed and unhurried routine. It also gives you a chance to supervise the children while they are eating and drinking - to make sure they get help if they need it, to make sure they don't choke and to make sure they try something in their lunchbox so they have enough energy for the day. Lots of kids won't eat and this is OK too but you still need to encourage them.
You can also use this time as a chance to talk to the children about healthy eating or just get to know them a bit better. It is important to share your own experiences/stories about food and drink with the children at this time, especially modelling healthy eating habits.
Here are some tips for conversations you can have at mealtimes:
Mmmmmm I'm taking a big sip of my water. How much water have you got left in your drink bottle? Let's see who has drunk the most water today.
What have you got in your lunchbox today?
I've got a banana and stir fry. I helped my mum cook the stir fry. It's my favourite. Do you have a favourite food?
I've got purple grapes today - has anyone else got purple food?
Let's count how many strawberries I've got?
Does anyone want to have a go at the apple twirling machine?
I can see you have really healthy snacks today Olivia?
Tell me about your day
Tell me about your weekend
Do you know why it is important to have our fruit?
I can show you how to open your yoghurt squeezie, then you can have a go by yourself OK?
TASK: Here are two documents from the Government's Get Up and Grow Program that gives some tips on what healthy eating and a healthy lunchbox should look like. You can have a look at this and get some ideas about what to talk to the children about when sitting down with them at lunchtime.
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