5. Healthy food for school breakfast programs - Australian Red Cross

5. Healthy food for schoolbreakfast programsBreakfast programs have a unique opportunity to provide nutritious, safe and culturallyappropriate breakfast foods to children and adolescents that can help to meet their increasedenergy and nutrient requirements for growth and development and to help them toconcentrate and learn well at school.Creating a healthy, nutritious and balanced breakfastA healthy breakfast for children and adolescents includes a variety of foods from the five foodgroups, shown in the circle in the picture below of the Australian Guide to Healthy Eating(AGHE), at every meal, every day. The AGHE is based on the Australian Dietary Guidelines forChildren and Adolescents, which outlines recommendations for healthy eating.Making healthy food choices: The five food groupsBread and cereals groupBread, cereals, rice, pasta, noodlesChoose multigrain, wholemeal and high fibre breads, wholegrain breakfast cereals low inadded sugar (e.g. Weet-Bix) and/or other wholegrains and cereals such as rice and oats, asthese provide the best source of complex carbohydrates, dietary fibre and a range of vitaminsand minerals, including folate and iron.Vegetables and legumes groupVegetables and legumes, such as baked beans, are a good source of vitamins, minerals,dietary fibre and energy. Breakfast programs are encouraged to incorporate vegetables orsalad wherever possible within breakfast meals.

5.Healthy food for schoolbreakfast programsAn example of foods and drinks to provide in a breakfast programHealthy cereal options include Weet-Bix, Vita Brits, untoasted muesli, porridge or oats. Topwith fresh or tinned fruit and/or reduced fat fruit yoghurt. See how many food groups you canget into one bowl!Other healthy options for breakfast include:• Yogurt and fruit, or a fruit smoothie with low fat milk and yoghurt• Poached or boiled eggs with wholegrain toast and reduced fat milk or a small glass of fruitjuice• Fruit salad topped with flavoured reduced fat yoghurt• Pancakes topped with fruit and yoghurt• Wholegrain or wholemeal toast is a healthy option and can be topped with:Poached, boiled or scrambled eggsPeanut butter (check school policy), ricotta cheese, avocado, fruit spread orvegemiteReduced salt baked beansReduced fat cheese and vegetables such as tomato, mushroom, avocado andspinachLean ham or sliced chicken• For variety wholegrain toast can be replaced by wholegrain crumpets, fruit bread, breakfastmuffins, rice cakes, pita bread or mountain bread.Healthy eating in the school environmentBreakfast programs in schools are encouraged to refer to the information and guidelinesprovided by the Right Bite Healthy Food Supply Strategy for SA Schools and Preschools andthe DECS Healthy Eating Guidelines for schools and preschools. Relevant websites are listedbelow.ReferencesAustralian Guide to Healthy Eating, 1998:http://www.health.gov.au/internet/main/publishing.nsf/Content/health-pubhlth-strateg-foodguide-index.htmDietary Guidelines for Children and Adolescents in Australia, 2003:http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/_files_nhmrc/file/publications/synopses/n30_pamphlet.pdfRight Bite Strategy and Healthy Eating Guidelines: www.decs.sa.gov.au/rightbite SA Health(2009), SA Community Foodies Training Manual, Internal Document