Do childcare services provide foods in line with the 2013 Australian Dietary guidelines? A cross-sectional study

During early childhood (3–5 years), children begin to develop dietary habits based on the transmission of cultural and familial beliefs, attitudes and practices surrounding food and eating. Healthy dietary behaviours established during childhood track into adulthood and protect against future chronic diseases. Childcare services are an important setting to promote development of healthy eating habits, as children attend care for prolonged periods and often consume a large proportion of their daily energy intake in this setting.