298 words.
Background
Breakfast quality in early childhood is associated with overall diet quality and can persist into later life. Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) services increasingly shape young Australian children's diets, with recommendations that food provided across the day cover 50–60% of daily nutritional requirements. However, breakfast provision in these settings remains largely unstudied.
Methods
A cross-sectional online survey was conducted March–June 2022. All Victorian ECEC services offering on-site food provision (n=1068) were invited. Eligible services operated at least 8 hours/day for 48 weeks/annum and provided breakfast on-site. Centre directors reported centre characteristics and breakfast items offered. Breakfast quality was assessed against two Healthy Eating Advisory Service frameworks: the Healthy Choices Food and Drink Classification Guide (items rated Green, Amber or Red) and the Breakfast Menu Recommendations for ECEC Services (scored out of five). Multivariable logistic regression examined associations with centre characteristics.
Results
Fifty centres participated (5% of eligible services). Median number of children eating breakfast per centre each morning was 19 (15.8% of enrolments). Cereal, bread and milk were most frequently "always" offered; vegetables most frequently "never" offered. Only 16% and 10% of centres met high-quality criteria under the Healthy Choices Guide and Breakfast Menu Recommendations respectively, with over 80% providing medium- or low-quality breakfasts. Centres in higher socioeconomic areas had greater odds of offering a high-quality breakfast (OR 3.04; 95% CI 1.00–9.16). Quality did not differ by location (metropolitan vs regional), management type (for-profit vs not-for-profit), service rating (exceeding vs meeting/working towards) or nutrition training (yes vs no).
Conclusion
Most Victorian ECEC services offered breakfasts of medium or low quality, with fruits and vegetables rarely provided. Quality appears to track centre resources rather than guidelines, with children in less advantaged areas least likely to receive a high-quality breakfast. Clearer breakfast provision guidelines, particularly on fruits and vegetables, alongside targeted funding, should be considered.