New guidelines to prevent overweight preschoolers

16th January 2012 - Under fives are being given food which is too grown up for them. It can result in them consuming too much salt and sugar and empty calories and not enough carbohydrate and essential minerals, such as iron and zinc.
Now the School Food Trust has compiled voluntary guidelines for nurseries and childminders about the food, and portion sizes, they should offer young children. At the moment it says more than a fifth of children are either overweight or obese when they join reception class.

Healthy start

The School Food Trust says children start learning about food at a very early age. The messages they receive lay the foundations for the choices they make about food as they move up to school and beyond.
It says young children are growing quickly and have high energy and nutrient requirements for their size. However, they also eat smaller amounts than older children and adults, so it is important for them to eat regular meals and snacks that contain sufficient energy and nutrients for their needs.

It says a low-fat, high fibrediet is  not appropriate for  young children, particularly children aged under two years, as it may not provide enough energy, fat, iron or zinc, and is too high in fibre. Between the ages of two and five years, children should gradually move towards the diet recommended for older children and adults, with  less energy provided from fat, and more from fibre.

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said in a press release: "NDNA welcomes and is fully supportive of these new guidelines which will help children to get a healthy start in their early years and hopefully instil a healthy eating attitude which will last a lifetime."

Menus

Children’s Minister Sarah Teather said in a press release: "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."

Childminder, Julia Deakin  who has tested the new guidelines, said in a prepared statement: "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. I even take them along to the supermarket with me, and you don’t have to be a superstar chef to get them right."

The new guidelines for children aged one to five include a spring/summer and autumn/winter menu. Each menu includes three meals (breakfast, lunch and tea) and two snacks per day and includes recipes for each menu item. The School Food Trust says the recipes are tried and tested favourites from early years settings across England and include pork and apple casserole, chickpea and vegetable curry and beef and vegetable enchiladas.