Healthy eating guidelines launched for preschool carers

New national, voluntary guidelines on healthy eating for under fives are launched today and aim to give childcare providers a nationallly recognised source of information on nutrition.

For the first time, they will be advised what they should offer young children, portion sizes, sample menus and recipes, advice on tackling fussy eating and involving children in food and cooking activities.

The guidance, from The School Food Trust, follows an independent report in 2010 which flagged demand for clearer guidance from childcare providers and parents amid concerns some children were being fed adult-style food resulting in a too great intake of salt and sugar and too few carbohydrates and essential minerals such as iron and zinc.

The report said more than a fifth of children are either overweight or obese when they join reception class; that Type 2 diabetes is appearing in young children and dental health is deteriorating.

School Food Trust nutritionist Patricia Mucavele 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.“

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.”

A voluntary code of practice for childcare providers, also launched today, includes steps such as consulting with children and their families about the food they offer, planning menus which meet the dietary needs of all children and offering a good dining environment with chances for children to build social skills through food.

The guidelines can be downloaded for free from www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk/eatbetterstartbetter.