Early Years Settings
Feeding Baby at Nursery
As a nursery or childminding setting, you play a central role in feeding babies and establishing healthy eating habits from an early age. Your staff are also well placed to provide baby feeding information to families, due to the frequency of contact you have with them. It’s really important for your setting to have an…
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…
Supervised Tooth Brushing Programme
Delivering a Tooth Brushing Programme in your Nursery As set out in the revised 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,…
Menu Planning FAQ’s and Common Pitfalls
In this month’s blog, we answer some of the common questions around menu planning in your early years setting. We also take a look at some of the common pitfalls that we see when we review menus. This will support you when planning nutritious and exciting food for the little ones in your setting! Are…
Mealtime Environment in your Early Years Setting
A positive mealtime environment in your early years setting provides opportunities for children to learn about food and the importance of making nutritious choices. The revised Early Years Foundation Stage framework (opens in new tab) learning and development requirements, emphasise the importance of supporting children to learn how to look after their bodies, including how…
Tooth Friendly Drinks and Snacks
Tooth Friendly Drinks and Snacks Choosing tooth friendly drinks and snacks can help to reduce children’s risk of oral health problems, such as tooth decay and gum disease. Up to 90% of tooth decay can be prevented by reducing the amount of sugar we eat, through regular tooth brushing and regular visits to the dentist….
Preparing Food Safely to Reduce the Risk of Choking
Preparing Food Safely to Reduce the Risk of Choking As a parent, it’s normal to worry about how your little one will manage eating and you may be nervous about gagging and choking. We want to support you to feel more confident about safety at mealtimes, so in this blog we explore simple steps that…
Menu Planning Tips for Early Years Settings
In this blog we’ll be exploring menu planning tips for early years settings, such as nurseries and childminders. Did you know, the Eat Better Start Better (EBSB) guidelines (opens in new tab) are the voluntary food and drink guidelines for early years settings, here in the UK? Following EBSB will support your setting to meet…
Food Budgeting for Early Years Settings
Food inflation has reached its highest for 13 years and is having an impact on early years settings budgets, including food budgeting costs. The early years are an important time to give children the best start in life and to ensure they start school a healthy weight. Your nursery and childminding settings play an important role…
How to Add Flavour Without Using Salt
How to Add Flavour Without Using Salt According to the NHS (opens in new tab), high salt intakes in children can raise their blood pressure and increase their risk of heart disease and stroke in later life. Like adults, children can develop a preference for salty foods, and may refuse foods without added salt, and…