Healthy eating is essential to everyday life, but with all the dietary tips and advice that we encounter, it becomes rather complicated for many people especially for those with special needs and dietary requirements. Sometimes experts even contradict each other and one person may say something is good, while the other will say that it is bad.

So, how can wereally be sure that the food we eat is not only delicious but also nutritious?

Following the healthy eating pyramid is one way to make sure, and of course we have the option to prepare your own meals at home. But, what if we don’t havethe luxury of time, and either too tired to cook or unable to cook? Ready-made meals are available and this can be a great option provided that we have a trustworthy supplier who can really deliver, not just delicious meals, but nourishing and nutritious meals that promote good health.

Taking the First Step to Good Health

Whether we’re opting for regular meals or specially-formulated meals based on our needs and requirements, we have to first know our preferences, our dietary needs, and the types of food that we’re allergic to. It is important to know our body first and understand the importance of a healthy, balanced diet. The other aspects of a healthy lifestyle must also be addressed properly and they include exercise, good sleeping habits, taking vitamin supplements, and avoiding heavy drinking and smoking.

Not All Ready Meals are Made the Same

Nowadays, time has become a luxury because of busy schedules. This reality often results in sacrificing health through unhealthy eating habits or eating too much fastfood meals and junk food. Ready-made meals are our best option, not just for ourselves, but also for our family. Keep in mind that not all ready meals are made the same, because only a trustworthy ready meal provider and manufacturer like Hearty Health can offer complete and nutritious meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks.

• Ready-made meals should be cooked and sealed fresh in proper food-grade containers. Food safety practices is important and a good packaging gives the first impression that what customers are getting is not spoiled and has been properly handled.

• It is important to follow the recommended Australian dietary guidelines which promotes a well-balanced meal proportion consisting of the 5 food groups which include grain cereal foods; vegetables and legumes/beans; fruits; lean meats and poultry, fish, eggs, tofu, nuts and seeds; reduced fat dairy products and/or alternatives.

• Ready-made meals should not only be nutritious but also be really delicious and tasty. Hearty Health chefs ensure taste is never compromised.

For more tips and advice from the chefs in the Hearty Health kitchen, feel free to contact us.

Is your child a fussy eater when it comes to eating fruit and vegetables?   Here are some tips to encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables, from the chef’s at Hearty Health:

​1. Try and try again

Children can be fussy with food, which can change from day to day. It is important to be patient and continue to offer a variety of fruit and vegetables every day, not just the type they like.

If you don’t succeed at first, try again. Some children need to be presented with a new food several times – even up to ten times or more – before they will try it. The goal is to make mealtime a positive experience and any new food consumed is a step forward.

2. Eating together

Parents and Early Childhood Educators have an important role to play in establishing a positive mealtime experience for children. Having meals together means that children are provided with an opportunity to learn.  Watching parents and role models enjoy a variety of nutritious foods, means children are more likely to join in.

3. Encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables

Encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables by providing non-food or social rewards, such as a star chart or reward scheme in your child care centre room.   Eating a variety of fruit and vegetables together with a child’s peers, creates positive eating habits for life.

4. Serving size matters

A child’s portion size may be small and varies with age, appetite and activity levels. Start by serving food in more manageable portions and gradually build from there.

5. Get children involved

Increase your child’s exposure and interest in fresh produce by going grocery shopping together and getting them involved in choosing which fruits and vegetables they would like to have. Many green grocers and supermarkets are now offering tours of their fresh produce departments.  This is a great excursion idea that many Child Care Centres are taking advantage of to encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables.

6. Make it fun and tasty

Children can have particular preferences for the taste, texture and presentation of their meals. Those who prefer crunchier textures may do better with raw rather than cooked vegetables.

To encourage children to eat fruit and vegetables, it may also be more appealing if different coloured fruits and vegetables are served together.

If your child is picky with vegetables, try starting with sweeter and more colourful vegetables like pumpkin, corn, cauliflower or carrots. Incorporate other types of vegetables when your child gets used to eating them.

New types of fruits and vegetables can also be served along with a food that you know they enjoy such as homemade sauces and dips to make them more palatable.

For more hints and tips from the chef’s in the Hearty Health kitchen, follow our Facebook page and check in to our Hearty Health Blog.

How to keep children healthy this Spring

With a severe flu epidemic racing around the country this Spring, all parents and child care centres are on the lookout for any signs of illness in our children.     To ensure we give our kids the best chance of resisting and/or recovering from illness, we need to maintain a balanced diet of fresh fruit and vegetables, protein and essential vitamins and minerals.   The old saying ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’ has never been more appropriate than it is at the moment so that we can keep children healthy.

Vitamin C:  

Kids need vitamin C to build strong bones, form and repair tissues throughout the body and to produce red blood cells. This vitamin also helps to boost the immune system so that children can resist illness and it assists the body with iron absorption. Fresh fruits provide the body with vitamin C.  It is a good idea to make sure there is always fresh fruit available for kids to snack on.

The B vitamins:

The B-group vitamins help the body to use fuel from carbohydrates, fat and protein. Other B-group vitamins help cells to multiply by making new DNA.    The body has a limited capacity to store most of the B-group vitamins (except B12 and folate, which are stored in the liver). A poor diet can lead to B-group vitamin deficiency so it is important that these vitamins be eaten regularly.    Diets should include a balance of wholegrain cereals, leafy green vegetables, milk, yoghurt, cottage cheese, eggs, good quality meat, chicken and fish, cauliflower, legumes and mushrooms and of course adjusted to allow for allergies and intolerances.

Vitamin D:

Another crucial vitamin to keep children healthy is vitamin D. It helps with bone and tooth development by enabling the body to absorb calcium and other minerals. Also, it supports cell growth, production of insulin and the immune system. While the body manufactures vitamin D with proper sun exposure, the use of sunscreen today lowers the body’s ability to produce sufficient amounts of it. Fortified dairy and other products, certain fatty fish and egg yolks are examples of foods that provide vitamin D.

Calcium:

The mineral calcium is vital for developing strong teeth and bones, helping the blood clot for wound healing and supporting the proper functioning of muscles and nerves. Dairy products, calcium-fortified orange juice, whole grain products and green leafy vegetables are some of the food sources of calcium.

Zinc:

Zinc supports the immune system, plays an important role in metabolism and promotes normal cell growth. Shellfish, poultry, red meat, whole grains, beans and dairy products will supply this mineral to children in effective quantities.

Iron:

This mineral is crucial for the body’s production of haemoglobin, which is the red substance in the blood that carries oxygen to the various areas of the body. A deficiency in iron leads to anaemia and can cause in weakness and fatigue. Seafood, red meat, poultry, legumes and green leafy vegetables are top sources for this mineral.

Keep children healthy with Hearty Health:

Hearty Health provide balanced freshly cooked ready meals to keep children healthy.  If you would like more information on the delicious and nutritious Hearty Health menu and how it provides the necessary vitamins and minerals for your children, call us on 1300 728 762 or contact us here.

Everyone knows that eating wholesome, nutritious meals is vital for each child’s physical development, body strength and general wellbeing. However, some people forget that a regular diet of nutrient-rich foods is just as important for children’s healthy brain development. In order for the brain to receive the necessary support for normal growth and activity, youngsters must eat meals plentiful in natural vitamins and minerals. Many other natural or organic substances are also very beneficial for good brain health and functionality. If your youngster is currently enrolled in a child care program and eats one or two meals per day during program sessions, be sure that this child care center provides healthy, nutritional meals and snacks throughout the year.

How Healthy, Nutrient-Rich Meals Affect a Child’s Brain Development and Activity

• Vitamins. – Major vitamins like A, B, C, D and E are all important to physical and mental development of young children in the following ways:

Vitamin A supports good vision, healthy skin and improved neurological functions. It also is a strong antioxidant, protecting youngsters from the onset of free radical damage in the body and brain.

The B vitamins promote good cellular metabolism while supporting good eye health and neurological activity as well as boosting mental and physical energy levels.

Vitamin C helps prevent immune system deficiencies and helps your system absorb iron, strengthening both body and brain. It also promotes healthy blood vessels, which are necessary for circulating sufficient blood supplies to the brain as well as the body to enhance high functionality.

Vitamin D is essential for bodily absorption of calcium, potassium and magnesium, all of which are minerals vital to strong bone health and mental focus.

Vitamin E promotes healthy eyes and is a powerful antioxidant, helping to prevent free radical damage to both body and brain.

• Minerals. – Calcium, magnesium, potassium and zinc are all important minerals for young children’s brain activity. Although these minerals are best known for their support of strong bone growth and maintenance, these substances also increase circulatory activity, supplying the brain and body with greater amounts of regular blood flow for sharper mental alertness and activity as well as better physical energy and endurance.

• Natural Compounds. – Important natural compounds like nitric oxide (NO2) are found in nature and offer important health-promoting properties as supplements for the body and mind. No2 widens the interior walls of children’s blood vessels, sending larger amounts of healthy oxygen to all muscles and organs of the body and to the brain as fuel for enhanced activity. Sodium chloride, or salt (NaCl) is necessary for keeping children’s bodies and brains hydrated and active, especially during hot weather. It is also essential for transmitting signals from the brain to the body’s nerve cells for high functionality of a child’s entire system.

When your child is enrolled in an excellent child care program that engages Hearty Health, you can be sure that he or she will receive highly nutritional meals and snacks every day to help with brain development. This premium quality Australian food preparation and delivery company is focused on providing young children with pure, healthy foods that appeal to them while providing optimal levels of nutrition in every bite.

Click here to read and share more articles on the importance of fresh healthy food for children in our Blog and of course follow us on Facebook!

Brrrrr winter is here and there is no better time to enjoy a warm meal on a Winter’s day than right now!

The chefs in the Hearty Health kitchen have been busy refining their recipes and cooking with passion so that our kids receive the tastiest food from our winter menu.    The chicken casserole is delicious and has been receiving rave reviews from the kids (and carers) in child care centres that use Hearty Health.

Although we can’t give away our secret recipe, we can tell you that the key to making a warm meal on a Winter’s day, like our chicken casserole, is to make sure that you:

• Cook with love – the more you care about your food and love what you are doing, the more chance you have of the meal being delicious.
• Use the best and freshest of ingredients – we have all heard fresh is best and this is true. Use seasonal produce, keep it simple and let the flavours in the food shine.
• Hold off on the additives – there is no need to use a whole lot of extra additives if you cook with great ingredients. Flavour food with herbs, good stock and long slow cooking on these cold wintery days and watch the food get devoured by the family!
• Variety is the spice of life – mix it up and add variety to your meal plan. We guarantee you – the kids will love it!

For more recipes ideas plus hints and tips from Hearty Health, check out our blog page here and like our Facebook Page!

To ensure that children across this country develop healthy eating habits, the government has set up Australian Dietary Guidelines to help parents and educators know that they are on the right track feeding the children. We provide these guidelines along with other information in the following facts.

First Guideline

Children should reach and maintain a healthy weight through eating nutritious foods and participating in physical activity.

Second Guideline

Children need to eat a variety of healthy foods each day from all five of these food groups:

• Fruits
• Vegetables of various colours and types including beans and legumes
• Grains, especially whole grains such as oats, brown rice and quinoa
• Fish, poultry, lean meats, nuts, tofu, seeds, eggs, beans and legumes
• Milk products or suitable alternatives and for children under 2 years, these should not be reduced fat

Note: Children also should drink an ample amount of water each day.

Third Guideline

Limit foods that contain saturated fat, alcohol, added sugars and added salt. These foods should be eaten sparingly, except for the alcoholic ones, which children should omit all together. Children under 2 should not be on a low-fat diet.

Fourth Guideline

Promote, support and encourage new moms to breastfeed.

Fifth Guideline

Store, prepare and handle food safely to ensure there is no cross contamination or bacteria growth.

How to Encourage Healthy Eating Habits

• The children need to eat foods from the five food groups each day.
• Save discretionary choices, such as the foods in the limited group for special occasions.
• Prepare and serve in-season fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Children above 2 years of age should eat only reduced-fat varieties of dairy products.
• Replace sugary drinks with water.
• Children need to eat breakfast each morning.
• Teach the children how and where foods grow.
• Alternate the menu in order to introduce new foods and dishes.
• Teach the children to wash their hands prior to eating meals and snacks.
• Encourage physical activity each day.

Serving Sizes for Each Food Group Varies with Age

Daily serving sizes of vegetables, fruits and the other food in the five food groups will vary according the age of the children. For example, children age 2 to 3 years should eat 2.5 one-half cup servings of cooked orange or green vegetables a day. Click here for further serving information for children.

Children of all ages love snacks. Especially when youngsters attend early childhood education programs as toddlers, kindergarten kids and preschool age children, snack time is a very popular break during the morning and afternoon sessions. Different from breakfast, lunch or dinner menus, snack foods can be simpler, and they seem to be made for the purpose of being fun to eat and tasting good. Healthy, natural snack foods are just as tasty and pleasurable to bite into as less nutritious ones, and child care centre teachers and food servers will usually pass out an abundance of snacks that are made of health-promoting ingredients.

These all-natural break-time treats also often come in colourful containers with ready-made spaces for different types of foods. For toddlers and young children, different types of snack foods often come packaged in colour-coded plastic dishes and bowls to help these youngsters recognize and remember the names and uses of various foods.

Best Healthy, Really Tasty Snacks Most Often Recommended for Children

The best and most frequently recommended snack foods for young children that are natural, healthy and really tasty treats include the following popular choices:

• Orange-Honey-Wheat Muffins with Banana Chips and Lemon Yogurt. – This mid-morning or afternoon snack gives kids energy and stamina, keeping them alert until lunch break or the end of their daily child care centre program. Flavorful and filled with nutrients, this snack is fresh and light yet substantial enough to keep youngsters from getting hungry or sleepy during training sessions and activities.

• Tot-Size Veggie Pizzas with Mixed Olives and Carrot Sticks. – These miniature, palm-size pizzas are the ideal serving size for small children. They are also easy to eat and rich in vitamin and mineral content. Kids also enjoy chasing the olives of different types and colors around their plates with the carrot sticks before eating, as individual table-top, mini-hockey competitions to tame any restlessness before continuing with their afternoon learning sessions.

• Sliced Melon and Bananas with Grapes, Nuts and Cheese Cubes. – Light fruits and other natural foods of this type are a great wake-up snack after rest periods for kindergarten kids or nap time for toddlers. Light and refreshing, they are just filling enough to satisfy youngsters’ appetites until the end of the morning or afternoon child care program.

Hearty Health chefs and nutritional food specialists for children will make sure your child eats the ultimate nutrient-rich, well balanced combination of ready meals and snack foods to enhance his or her good health and every new stage of these early learning years.

Child obesity has risen to such a high level that the schools should now understand that they can play a vital role in combating this epidemic. The same goes for your school since you can teach proper nutrition not just in the classrooms, but also by the food that you serve to students in the form of meals and snacks. For this information, though, we will concentrate on how eating healthy snacks at schools can help stop child obesity.

1. Healthy Foods at Snack Time Provide a Boost to the Metabolism

When you serve healthy snacks at school in between meals, you boost the children’s metabolisms, and this helps their body burn calories. The body must burn calories steadily throughout the day to maintain a healthy weight and even lose excess fat.

2. Reduces Sugar Intake for the Children

Sugar spikes in the bodies of children hinder their ability to burn the glycogen stores that they need to in order for the children to lose and maintain weight. For example, if they eat veggies, low-fat cheese and fruit, they consume far less sugar than if they consume donuts, cookies or cake for snacks. In addition, if any of the children attending your school suffer from type-one diabetes, they need to limit their sugar intake severely during the day along with other unhealthy foods.

3. Teaches Children Proper Eating Habits

Serving healthy snacks to children teaches them proper eating habits. This lesson can stay with them all through their lives and not just their early years. Experts agree that setting an example such as this is more effective than just lecturing them about the importance of eating healthy.

4. Lessens the Overall Calorie Intake for Children

Healthy foods for snacks contain fewer calories than sugar laden ones do, and this lessens the daily intake of calories for children. As a result, they are less likely to become obese.

5. Keeps Children’s Energy Level Up for Physical Activities

Supplementing the children’s nutrition with healthy snacks at school in between meals keeps the children’s energy level up in order for them to participate in the physical activities and exercise that they should have each day. Whether it is open play or a structured fitness program, children will build strong bodies by running, jumping, hopping, walking, swimming or playing various sports.

Please, allow our child care catering company of Hearty Health to assist you in your efforts to provide your children with fresh, healthy snacks and meals. We will work with you to form the appropriate menus and meals for your specific needs. All of our offerings are prepared by professional chefs’ fresh daily with the finest of ingredients.

Health-oriented caterers and meal suppliers for child care centres today must devise attractive ways to interest children in healthy foods, enticing youngsters to develop healthy eating habits. Most parents, teachers and child care administrators now realise the great importance of encouraging children to consume a healthy, natural and balanced diet starting at an early age. By helping children to acquire a taste and desire for health-enhancing foods during their preschool years, concerned adults can assist children to make healthy food choices that will enable them to lead active, productive lifestyles later on.

Methods of Influencing Youngsters to Like and Eat a Healthy Diet

Some ways to encourage young children to develop good eating habits that will help them grow and lead healthy, productive lives all during their teenage years and throughout adulthood include the following:

• Prepare Colorful, Tasty Foods That Are Attractive to Children. – When you prepare meals for young children that consist of foods with appealing colors and tastes, most children will eat meals willingly. For example, when you serve youngsters sweet apples with crisp hot roasted chicken and flavorful fresh whole-grain berry and nut muffins, they will often eat a full meal. If you substitute flavorful natural fruit juices for sodas, they will acquire a taste and desire for these natural drinks.

• Serve Foods in Familiar Designs on Youngsters’ Plates. – When food caterers for child care centres and preschool programs serve meals prepared in designs that children know and like, such as clown faces, baseball caps and mitts or dancer’s tutus, children are often delighted and will respond by eating everything on their plates.

• Cut and Carve Fruits and Vegetables in Plant or Animal Forms. – If food preparation for child care centres and preschool programs includes cutting and carving natural or organic fruits and vegetables into familiar plant or animal forms, children will usually respond enthusiastically, eating a healthy meal.

• Create a Story About Each Food Served to Kids. – When child care experts create stories to accompany healthy meals for children, youngsters are often willing to eat nutritional, pure foods. For example, if Ricky the Race Horse eats lots of crisp, fresh carrots and apples, children will do the same after hearing Ricky’s story or viewing a video about this popular horse character.

For experienced professional advice on feeding children healthy meals and to discover all the benefits of engaging the services of a respected caterer for child care centres and preschool programs across Australia, contact the experts at HeartyHealth.com.au today. This innovative company offers convenient online services that will enhance the healthy eating habits of your young child care group for a lifetime.

Young children spend the majority of their weekdays in day-care centres today while their parents are at work or to prepare for the next stage of their education. For this reason, they need to be able to consume sufficient nutrients through the meals that the centres provide to ensure that their bodies continue to develop in the proper manner. Now, you could try to prepare and serve quality meals, all on your own at your centre, but this is a monumental task if you do not contain the ideal setup, knowledge and skills. Instead of this, you should rely on our company, Hearty Health, to provide you with high-quality school meals that are especially healthy, hearty and nutritious. Read below to discover how we go about this each day.

We Help You Plan Menus

Our staff helps you plan menus in order for you to offer a wide range of meals throughout the year. We base these meals on a four-week rotation to instill a love of food in children.

Our Meals Never Contain Nuts or Pork

We ensure that all of our meals are void of nuts in any form since children can be highly allergic to certain varieties of them. In addition, some parents practice cultural beliefs that prohibit the consumption of pork, so we will not include this meat or its byproducts in our meals.

Our Company Uses Food Products from Local Sources

We purchase in-season produce, and meat and seafood from local sources to ensure the freshest of quality ingredients for each meal. In addition, this supports local food producers and benefits the surrounding community.

Professional Chefs Prepare Nutritious Meals Fresh Daily

Hearty Health employs professional chefs to prepare our healthy, hearty, and nutritious meals. In fact, our menus ensure that children consume at least 50 percent of the RDI if not exceed it.

Allergen Meals Are Available upon Request

Our catering company provides a menu for those children with food allergies or sensitivities. We believe that all children should be able to eat in a safe manner every day.

Drivers Deliver the Meals to Your Establishment

Each day that you are open, our drivers deliver your meals in a refrigerated van. They even place all the meals straight into your refrigerator for your convenience.

Contact us by phone, through our website or in person to learn additional facts about our childcare catering company and services. We will take the hassle out of meal planning and preparation while delivering quality school meals that are healthy, hearty and nutritious.