First national food guidelines for under-fives released
Janaki Mahadevan
Monday, January 16, 2012
Childcare providers have been armed with guidance on what food to provide for young children in their settings, after calls for clearer national support on the issue.
It is the first time that providers will have nationally recognised advice covering portion sizes, food types, sample menus and guidance on how to tackle fussy eating.
The School Food Trust, which has published the guidance, said that while many childcare providers do well in this area, some are giving young children food more appropriate for older children and adults.
Patricia Mucavele, The School Food Trust’s nutritionist, 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."
A government-commissioned report published by the Advisory Panel on Food and Nutrition in Early Years in November 2010, recommended that childcare providers and parents need clearer guidance on what under-fives should eat and drink while in childcare.
Childminder Julia Deakin, who helped test the the guidelines, said: "Perhaps the best part of the process has been learning and following the fantastic new healthy recipes. They are easy to follow and delicious, the children have loved them all."
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Pre-school Learning Alliance, said: "The guidelines will assist childcare providers as they navigate through the maze of information about what food and drink is nutritionally appropriate and inappropriate for young children."
