Under 5’s Need a Different Food Balance
A national survey of meals provided by children’s nurseries, in which Warwickshire County Council’s Trading Standards Service contributed, has revealed that small children are being given the wrong proportions of food and nutrients because of a lack of clear dietary advice for the under 5’s.
Warwickshire Trading Standards enlisted the help of two nurseries to carry out the survey. Their results mirrored those found nationally which were:
Fat is the main energy providing nutrient and an essential part of the diet for children under 5, yet the majority of nurseries didn’t provide enough fat in their food. Some reported requests from parents for low fat foods and some used semi-skimmed milk instead of ‘full fat’ whole milk.
Most nurseries were also providing too much fruit and not enough starchy carbohydrates such as bread, rice, potatoes and pasta.
Fibre levels in the majority of nurseries were too high. Many were closer to the recommendation for adults. Fibre is sourced from fruit, vegetables, pulses, brown rice and wholemeal bread. Too much fibre is detrimental for young children because it is bulky and filling and so may cause insufficient food uptake. Fibre can also inhibit the absorption of iron and zinc.
Portion sizes varied across nurseries and were found in some cases to be too large or too small.
Salt levels were high at the majority of nurseries mostly as a result of using packet or tinned goods, sausages, pizzas, soups, bread and cheese. Those nurseries who cooked from scratch were closest to achieving the guideline levels.
Children’s iron intake was also too low. Iron deficiency is the most common nutritional deficiency in children under 5.
Finally, the inclusion of oily fish on the menus was variable with many not offering it at all. The Food Standards Agency advice is for children to have two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily. These provide omega-3 fats which are important for brain development.
Mark Ryder, Head of Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service said: “Many of the results of this survey may seem at odds with the messages we normally hear about what sorts of foods we should eat and in what quantities. However, growing children and under 5’s in particular have very different nutritional requirements from adults. What is right for us is not necessarily right for them.
"This survey has highlighted that whilst most nurseries are generally well intentioned, they need better information and guidance to assist them to provide the best meals for their children.
In Warwickshire, we will now be working with all our nurseries, both private and state, to provide them with the necessary help and advice so that they are able to provide nutritionally balanced meals.”
The LACORS led survey involved 29 local authorities in England and 118 nursery schools, all participating on a voluntary basis.
All the nurseries involved were requested to provide full menus and recipes were available. This material was considered by local dieticians and nutritionists along with the chemical analysis to provide feedback and recommendations to the nurseries.
The clear message is that the nursery schools involved in this survey are trying hard to provide healthy and nutritious food for the children attending the nurseries.
From the feedback provided by the nurseries they have found the experience valuable and many have already implemented the recommendations to improve their menus and their approach to nutrition.
Warwickshire County Council Trading Standards Service menu guide for the under 5’s:
Offer children a good range of foods.
Remember children require smaller portions than adults.
Low fat, high fibre diets are not usually suitable for children under 5 as they don’t provide enough calories.
Bread, Rice, Potatoes, Pasta and other starchy foods are a very good source of energy and should be included at each meal.
Avoid excessive intake of fruit and vegetables as too much fibre can reduce appetite for other foods. A suitable portion for a young child is the amount that fits in the palm of a child’s hand.
Young children should be offered full fat versions of milk, cheese, yoghurt and fromage frais. Dairy foods should be offered 2-3 times a day.
Processed foods such as pies, nuggets and sausages should be limited to once per week.
Oily fish should be included once per week e.g. mackerel, salmon and sardines. Tinned Tuna does not count as oily fish, but fresh tuna does.
Foods high in fat and high in sugar should not be given freely as they are very high in energy but provide only a small range of other nutrients. However they are useful in meeting energy requirements and can be included as part of a healthy diet.
1-3 year olds should be given no more than 2g of salt per day=800mg sodium. Foods high in salt include bacon, ham, sausage, packet soups, sauces, crisps and processed foods.
Try to incorporate iron and zinc rich foods into a child’s diet via red meat, leafy green vegetables, egg, tofu, dried fruit (raisins), some fish (sardines and pilchards),wholegrain breakfast cereals and liver/liver products (only once a week for young children).