Early Years Settings
Snack Time in Your Early Years Setting
A common question we’re asked here at Early Start Nutrition, is around what foods to serve children at snack time. In this blog we’ll be exploring how to plan healthy snacks for little ones and which foods to include. As part of a healthy meal routine, toddlers (over the age of 1 year) should be…
Menu Planning FAQ’s and Common Pitfalls
In this blog we answer some of the most common questions around menu planning in early years settings. We take a look at some of the common pitfalls we often see when reviewing menus, which will support you to plan nutritious and exciting food for the little ones in your setting! Are there any guidelines…
Prioritising Nutrition in your Early Years Setting
Prioritising Nutrition in your Early Years Setting Here at Early Start Nutrition our role is to advocate good nutrition for children under 5 and their families. We do this by supporting early years settings to provide healthy balanced meals for children, create positive eating environments, provide opportunities to learn about food and promote key nutrition…
Encouraging Families to Learn About Food at Home
As an early years setting you provide lots of opportunities for children to learn about and explore different foods. You can support specific areas of learning, in-line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework (opens in new tab) . For example, their ‘Understanding of the world’, through activities, such as growing strawberries, teaching children…
What can you do to increase the uptake of the Healthy Start scheme?
What is Healthy Start? NHS Healthy Start is the UK’s food welfare scheme for pregnant women and young children in low-income families. The scheme is there to help families who are most in need of this support. Families will get help to buy healthy food and drink including fresh, frozen and tinned fruit and vegetables,…
What Types of Fat are Best?
In this blog we’ll be exploring what types of fat are best. A small amount of fat is an essential part of a healthy, balanced diet. They’re a source of essential fatty acids, which our bodies cannot make themselves. Fat also helps our bodies to absorb vitamin A, vitamin D and vitamin E. These vitamins…
Is A Vegan Diet Suitable For Children?
While it’s unclear exactly how many children and adults follow a vegan diet in the UK, the general consensus is that this plant based diet is on the rise. In fact, the The Vegan Society (opens in new tab) reports that currently around 1.5% of the population are Vegan. This is based on research carried…
Supervised Tooth Brushing Programme
Delivering a Tooth Brushing Programme in your Nursery As set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Framework, early years providers are required to promote the good oral health of children. This has been included because good oral health habits need to be formed from an early age. Tooth decay is largely preventable, but…
Seasonal Vegetables and Fruit
Eating more seasonal vegetables and fruits helps to support food producers and reduce food waste. You can find lots of useful information from Veg Power here (opens in new tab). Let’s take a look at more of the benefits of eating seasonal vegetables and fruit. Seasonal vegetables and fruit are typically of a higher quality and…
Nutrition Advent Calendar
Welcome to our Nutrition Advent Calendar. For the whole of December you can open the door to our favourite festive treats. Each morning you’ll find a new recipe hiding behind our interactive advent calendar! Once you click on the door you’ll be taken to our festive recipe cards which you can download to recreate the…