Rainbow Food and Childcare

Children of childcare age rely on adults to provide food for them.
Adults therefore need to be encouraged and supported in that
responsibility. The Rainbow Food healthy eating program for kids
provides such support.

A recent study conducted by a Sydney Health Promotion Service
found that the nutrition policy of some childcare centres needed further
improvement. The same study showed that carers* can be effective disseminators of nutritional information and can bring about change in the behaviour of parents using childcare centres.
Child and family day care settings provide the opportunity to directly access and disseminate nutritional information to families.

The aim of the Rainbow Food-Eating by Colour Project is to raise awareness of the benefits of good nutrition at the earliest possible stage of children’s development. Improving practices related to nutrition by staff and parents is the expected outcome.

This outcome will be measured by improvements in the variety scores of participating children. Babies, toddlers and pre-schoolers can participate.

2004

Rainbow Food has now been successfully trialled in the childcare setting, with the assistance of the Federal Minister for Children. The results are tabled below. The best results came from the centre which used the program for the longest period of time. An improvement of 319% was achieved in the variety of healthy food sent in from home following the implemetation of the Rainbow Food program. RAINBOW FOOD-EATING BY COLOUR® IN CHILDCARE PILOT RESULTS

CENTRES 3,4 AND 9 PROVIDED INFORMATION IN WRITTEN REPORTS AND COMMENTS
These results are verified by psychologists Radha Nicholson and Evelyn Lucas, members of the Australian Psychological Society and members of the projects' steering committee.
FOOD VARIETY SCORES AS PROVIDED BY FAMILIES AND CENTRES

Centre location Food Centre From Food Home Spec needs Families staff targetted Variety Score Daily Mean
Initial - Final Improvement in variety score

Centre 1 Byron Shire coastal X 3 100 25 incl ....expert c/ee 14.2 - 34.7 144.3 %

Centre 2 Byron Shire coastal X 2 70 9
Lunchboxes
5.32 - 7.3
parent reports
12.3 - 23.4
lunchboxes 38%
parent report 90%

Centre 3 Byron shire rural x 149 10 *

Centre 4 Lismore X 8 118 12 *

Centre 5 Central Coast x 123 15 7.46 - 8.05
parent reports 8%

Centre 6 Tweed valley x 130 22
2.45 - 4.57
5.98 - 17.68
4.66 - 4.78
3.75 - 5.2
5.9 - 8.6

- district mean
4.5 - 8.16

86%
195.6%
2%
38.6%
45.7%

81.3%

Centre 7 Sydney x 69 11 9.7 - 10.94
centre food
13.8 - 17.28
parent report
12.78%

25.2%

Centre 8 Sydney S-W X 10 85 5 1. 6 - 6.7
lunchboxes 319%

Centre 9 Sydney x 85 5
*

total 929 114

*These centres incorporated the program but provided their information in the form written reports and comments.

Centre location	Food Centre From Food Home Spec needs	Families staff targetted	Variety Score Daily Mean Initial - Final	Improvement in variety score
Centre 1 Byron Shire coastal	X 3	100 25 incl ....expert c/ee	14.2 - 34.7	144.3 %
Centre 2 Byron Shire coastal	X 2	70 9	Lunchboxes 5.32 - 7.3 parent reports 12.3 - 23.4	lunchboxes 38% parent report 90%
Centre 3 Byron shire rural	x	149 10		*
Centre 4 Lismore	X 8	118 12		*
Centre 5 Central Coast	x	123 15	7.46 - 8.05 parent reports	8%
Centre 6 Tweed valley	x	130 22	2.45 - 4.57 5.98 - 17.68 4.66 - 4.78 3.75 - 5.2 5.9 - 8.6 - district mean 4.5 - 8.16	86% 195.6% 2% 38.6% 45.7% 81.3%
Centre 7 Sydney	x	69 11	9.7 - 10.94 centre food 13.8 - 17.28 parent report	12.78% 25.2%
Centre 8 Sydney S-W	X 10	85 5	1. 6 - 6.7 lunchboxes	319%
Centre 9 Sydney	x	85 5		*
		total 929 114