Childcare menus include up to 16 teaspoons of added sugar a day

An investigation into menus at a number of childcare centres has found that some include up to 16 teaspoons of sugar a day. See five typical menus and their sugar content.

Children in daycare are being fed the equivalent of 1554 snake lollies a year, a damning insight into their nutrition has found.

An investigation looking at sample menus from a number of childcare centres found kids in full-time daycare are being fed on average a shocking 8.55kg of added sugar a year.

Nutrition expert Mandy Sacher said she looked at five sample menus from small and large centres where she has acted as a consultant in the last 12 months.

She found kids on average are eating up to 11.25 teaspoons of added sugar a day, equating to more than one 375ml can of Coca-Cola (9.95 tsps), more than 75g of Cadbury Dairy Milk Chocolate or 2.3 Magnum Classic ice creams.

Over the course of a year, the average child in full-time care will consume a horrifying 2137.5 teaspoons of added sugar – the equivalent of 1554 Allen’s snake lollies.

One menu included more than 16 teaspoons of added sugar per day.

Chief Nutrition Officer Mandy Sacher and students having lunch at the MindChamps Preschool in Mascot. Picture: Chris Pavlich

Chief Nutrition Officer Mandy Sacher at the Mascot MindChamps Centre. Picture - Chris Pavlich

“These menus are from different states and demographics and represent the majority of childcare centres,” Ms Sacher said.

“I’ve been working in this field for 15 years and one of the biggest challenges for centres is food budgets, it’s all about the bottom line.

“Parents are paying a lot of money, but not a lot is being spent on food.”

Last year the United Workers Union found childcare centres were spending on average $2.15 per child, per day, on food and as little as 65 cents.

Ms Sacher currently oversees nutrition and meal plans at MindChamps, where menus contain none or no more than one teaspoon of added sugar a day.

She said parents need to ask daycare centres more questions about what their kids are being fed.

Foods high in sugar, both added and natural.

A day’s food from one childcare centre which is high in added sugar. Supplied

They also need to better understand what they themselves should be giving their children at home.

It follows a MindChamps survey of more than 1000 parents which found that a quarter are nutritionally illiterate and are unable to understand food labels, half don’t currently check nutritional labels and one in three admit they’re not meeting the nutritional requirements for their children.

Eye surgeon Dr James Muecke warned a diet laden with addictive sugar and seed oils is fuelling an obesity and type 2 diabetes epidemic now being seen in children as young as three.

“We are often feeding our kids ultra-processed junk and fast foods because they’re cheap and convenient.” Dr Muecke said.

Packaged consumables and sugary drinks may also cause tooth decay and problems with behaviour, concentration and sleep. It sets them up for a lifetime of failure.”

Former Australian of the Year, ophthalmologist James Muecke, with sugar, which he says is ruining children’s health. Picture Matt Turner.

Dr Muecke said there should be stronger regulation around what childcare centres and schools are allowed to serve children. The focus should be on real foods.

New dietary guidelines recently released in the US states that children under the age of two should consume no added sugar, while the World Health Organisation said children should have no more than six teaspoons of added sugar a day.

Ms Sacher said most daycare centre cooks are not trained in nutrition and are providing “inferior meal plans”.

“I have been disappointed in how childcare centres are regulated,” she said.

A spokesman from the Australian Children’s Education and Care Quality Authority, which works with government to provide guidance, resources and services to support the sector, refused to comment on whether the regulation and laws were strong enough.

Originally published as Childcare menus include up to 16 teaspoons of added sugar a day