Healthy eating in early years settings

Children's eating habits are formed early in life, and therefore their early years are a crucial time to support them to develop these. Eating more fresh fruit and vegetables can also help us address the climate and nature emergency. Eating meat less often and choosing meat that is produced in the UK to higher welfare standards (eg red tractor) can reduce carbon emissions and support a healthy diet. Choosing seasonal fruit and vegetables is great for people and the planet.

As an early years setting, you can help raise awareness of healthy eating and positive eating habits within existing practice and promote, educate and encourage families to provide healthy, nutritious food within the home by:

promoting healthy eating messages in the setting and with staff and families
providing children in the setting with healthy, balanced and nutritious food, snacks and meals
training your staff to ensure they can provide healthy eating messages to children and their families
promoting and displaying the Healthy Start voucher scheme in the setting and with families - see Healthy Start Scheme (get help to buy food and milk)
engaging and working with external partners and agencies

Training and resources

You can access the training and resources below to support you in promoting healthy eating and improving eating habits, and to support you in achieving the pledge.

Training

Anaphylaxis

The information and training section has AllergyWise training and there is an accredited module for pre school carers and early years. Training is free (a certificate on completion is available for £5).

Visit Aanaphylaxis UK for more information.