Environmental sustainability and food provision in the early childhood and education setting.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

To describe environmentally sustainable (ES) and healthy food provision practices in childcare services in Victoria, Australia.

Design

Cross-sectional study.

Setting

Childcare services providing food onsite.

Participants

Staff completed an online survey that explored ES food provision practices including purchasing seasonal/local food, food waste awareness/management, and food cost/child/d. A purposively sampled subgroup conducted weighed audits to determine compliance with guidelines and total waste, serving waste (prepared, not served) and plate waste.

Results

Survey results found 8 % of services (n 129) had previously conducted food waste audits. Service audits (n 12) found 27 % total food waste (range: 9 % - 64 %). Statistical

SUBMITTER: Elford A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10641621 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature