Promoting Healthy Eating in Early Years Settings

The importance of healthy eating in the Early Years Sector

Learning about living a healthy lifestyle in the early years promotes a sense of well-being and confidence in children. With the guidance of parents and educators, children can learn to take more responsibility for their health and well-being as they grow. Educators have an opportunity to help lay the foundations of knowledge. Below are some suggestions on how this can be achieved successfully in an early years setting.

Plan well-thought-out and varied menus

Planning menus helps ensure enough time to consider all children’s nutritional needs. It also gives enough time to cater for allergies and dietary requirements and consider the variety. Ensuring a wide variety of foods is on offer will keep it interesting and help children develop a more expansive palate.

Allow children to trust their bodies

Children are born intuitive eaters, meaning they instinctively know how much their bodies need to grow, learn, and play. If educators and parents support this, this intuitive self-regulation of food helps promote mindful eating as children grow into adults. Providing a supportive and encouraging environment for variety and choice can promote a positive experience for children developing their confidence with different foods.

Invite parents to be involved

Allowing parents and caregivers to be involved in the early years setting can help promote the healthy message in the home. Educators can inform parents about children’s meal experiences and then share recipes for replicating and enjoying them at home. Another positive way to promote parent involvement is to ask parents for feedback on the menu provided for their children.

Let children take responsibility

Various experiences can be part of the educational program that allows children to learn and explore a healthy lifestyle. Children can help grow vegetables or herbs and then pick, prepare, and eat them. Other activities involve planning a healthy meal by writing a list and cooking together. Allowing children to be hands-on and involved has many teachable moments.

Make it fun

Educators participating in mealtimes can make it a social and enjoyable experience for the children. It also allows the children to observe good role-modelling, where educators can demonstrate being open-minded about trying different foods. Meal times are a wonderful opportunity for educators to communicate an overall positive message about looking after our bodies through nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.

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Reference 

https://theeducationhub.org.nz/how-to-support-positive-food-environments-in-early-childhood-settings/