Some very lucky kindy kids from Queensland Childcare Services’ Hyperdome Early Education Centre have received a special shipment of organic wholemeal pasta straight from Italian shores, this year.
The delivery was arranged by Queensland Childcare Services’ (QCCS) in-house healthy food partner, the Healthy Cooking Company, as part of the provider’s mission to deliver natural and nutritious food to kids across Queensland.
Healthy Cooking Company’s Head Dietician, Jim Arrowgros said importing the Italian pasta was no easy feat.
“The pasta travelled nearly 10,000 kilometres by sea before arriving at the Port of Brisbane – but we believe any step that enhances the nutritional value and quality of our meals is well worth it, for our team and the families we serve,” he said.
“Early exposure to healthy food choices supports the development of long-term, healthy eating behaviours.”
“We facilitate this through encouraging family style dining, incorporating many colourful fruits and veggies as we can – hidden and visible – and making healthy food fun for littles ones.”
The BioItalia macaroni pasta shipment was organised in collaboration with Australian-based company Myda Global and began its journey to Logan from Sarno, Italy – a small town bordering the Amalfi Coast.
QCCS General Manager, Laura Faalili said the pasta delivery was just one part of the provider’s nutrition program with healthy food education central to its statewide curriculum.
“The important lessons that children at QCCS learn during their early childhood are the building blocks for lifelong healthy habits,” she said.
“We actively involve children in family-style dining and help them understand healthy food choices from an early age, building habits that make mealtimes and nutrition easier at home, school and into adulthood.”
Created in 2012, the Healthy Cooking Company was founded on the belief all children should have access to wholesome, nutritious meals and is dedicated to producing food free from preservatives, artificial colours and flavours, low in sodium and refined sugar.
QCCS Centres also run other healthy food initiatives like the ‘Veggie Fun’ and ‘Taste the Rainbow’ programs to encourage healthy eating habits during early childhood.
