New guidelines on early years nutrition
The School Food Trust is today launching new voluntary guidelines on providing healthy meals for young children under the age of five. The new guidelines are supported by The National Day Nurseries Association, The National Childminding Association and the Pre-School Learning Alliance.
by Louise-Anne Geddes, Mindful Mum, 16th January 2012
The ‘Start Better, Eat Better’ Guidelines are a national and voluntary new source of information to help support nurseries, childminders and other providers of ‘early years’ services to provide healthy meals and to help reduce obesity in under fives. They are able to access advice on issues such as portion control. Sample menus and recipes are also available along with advice on tackling fussy eaters and how to involve children more in cooking activities.
Clearer guidance
The guidelines followed on from an independent report in 2010, which suggested that while many childcare providers are already doing good work in providing nutritionally balanced meals, many were providing food more appropriate to adults or older children. The report indicated that a fifth of children were either overweight or obese when they went to nursery. The new ‘Start Better, Eat Better’ guidelines aim to reduce the risk of Type 2 Diabetes and other health related issues and to promote the importance of healthy eating and good dental health.
A healthy start in life
Patricia Mucavele, nutritionist for the School Food Trust said:
“There’s lots of support being put into place to help any early years provider start to use these guidelines – we are piloting training with five local authorities already and will be coming to more areas in the coming year. This is just the beginning, and we hope that as many providers as possible will use these guidelines to help children get a healthy start in life”.
The Children’s Minister, Sarah Teather said:
“Healthy eating is at the heart of helping every child get the best start in life. Nurseries play a vital role in getting children from all backgrounds to develop good eating habits – but many lack the expert knowledge of what is the best food to serve. Parents rightly want their children to be eating healthy, nutritional food. Thanks to these voluntary guidelines drawn up by the School Food Trust, we will help nurseries and other childcare providers do just that.”
Further information and support
Mindful Mum nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed offers advice on Top foods to avoid and how to deal with fussy toddlers in her article Help, my toddler won’t eat main meals
Sources: School Food Trust, Start Better, Eat Better resources, 16th January 2012
School Food Trust, Press Release, 16th January 2012
Photography: Bruce Tuten @Flickr
Comments for 'New guidelines on early years nutrition'