Children are influenced by the foods that their parents eat. If they are given a variety of healthy foods and their parents munch on raw carrot or snack on strawberries then they are more likely to follow suit. The same applies to children whose parents have a diet of Coca-Cola, chips and ready-made meals. Early years settings, however, are in a unique position to improve the lifelong health of the children in their care by encouraging them to eat good food, regardless of what may be on the menu at home. The role of the practitioner is central to the child's eating experience at nursery, because they will act as a role model in the same way as a parent.
EATING TOGETHER
The most positive message that practitioners can give children is to share a meal or snack together, according to public health nutritionist Annie Seeley, who specialises in children's nutrition.
She says, 'The best way to encourage healthy eating habits and for children to taste new foods is for the staff to eat with them. How else can they talk about the flavours? They may be able to say, "Yum, yum. Eat this", but the basics need to be in place. Settings might have creative chefs producing amazing food, but there's a missing link in the chain of good food provision if the people who are sitting with the children at mealtimes are not eating the food themselves.'
Ms Seeley believes strongly that meals for staff need to be included in the nursery budget. She explains, 'I understand why this may be difficult - not only financially but also because there may be an issue around educating staff about healthy eating - but it's worth the investment. Good nurseries can use mealtimes to create realistic home environments where children role model practitioners as they would their parents at home.'
FOOD EDUCATION
For many settings, eating with the children is not something that is formalised. Practitioners might be able to eat a token amount on the days that there is enough to go around, but some might choose not to eat the food that is available to them.
Ms Seeley says, 'One of the biggest barriers that settings face is that some practitioners may not be used to the flavours of home-cooked food because they have been bought up on processed food. As a result, they may not want to try new foods or may dislike them. This can mean they talk about food negatively or may refuse to eat the food.'
Tip Both of these problems can be tackled through education with food tastings and training in healthy eating and nutrition. The role of the Physical Activity and Nutrition Co-ordinator (PANCo) has been developed as has a Certificate in Early Years Physical Activity and Nutrition (EYPAN), endorsed by CACHE. See: www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/1129900/
NEW TASTES
Food should be a guilt-free experience for all children, and settings should create supportive environments with nutritious and fun early food experiences that help reduce children's fears over trying new foods.
Early years consultant and author Penny Tassoni says that the easiest way to get children to try new food is to talk 'properly and positively' about it. She explains, 'The main role, in terms of adult role modelling, is to seem enthusiastic so that children relax a bit about food and understand that it's just like filling up your car; it's fuel which happens to be pleasurable.'
But she says that children should 'never' feel that they have to finish everything on their plates. 'They should attempt and try lots of different foods but not ever feel that they have to eat to please an adult,' she explains.
Not only is it wrong for adults to make children feel uncomfortable about how much they are eating, it is also unhelpful for young children to be exposed to the idea of dieting or worrying about their food.
Ms Tassoni explains, 'The one thing that I would love adults to stop doing in front of children - assuming that what is available for children is nutritious and within nutritional guidelines - is to role model the foods in a negative way, with comments like, "I'm watching my weight so I will only have a little bit" or giving the impression that there are some foods you are not allowed.'
Tip The role of the adult is to develop their knowledge of nutrition and be aware of how their behaviours and attitudes can influence children.
CASE STUDY: LITTLE MONKEY'S NURSERY, WINDSOR
Parents at Little Monkey's Nursery, Windsor, look forward to pick-up time - not only to be reunited with their children but also because they often get the chance to taste some of the dishes that their children have eaten that day, lovingly prepared by Janis Crutch, chef and co-owner. And with a menu of salmon and asparagus quiche, sardine dip and chicken korma, who can blame them.
Ms Crutch says, 'Parents can't believe that the children eat these foods at nursery, when they won't touch them at home. A lot of children do say, "I don't like that" but we try to gently encourage them by saying, "Just try it, and if you don't like it, you don't have to eat it."'
Mealtimes at Little Monkey's are social occasions where the staff sit with the children and often eat the same food as them - or a token portion, at least. Food is brought to the table in serving dishes and children can help themselves and they are encouraged and enticed to try new foods.
Ms Crutch believes that one of the ways to ensure that children develop early lifelong healthy eating habits is to help educate interested parents.
She explains, 'I try to encourage them to cook more. I even have a recipe book in the pipeline because parents always ask me how to cook dishes that their children like. I put a recipe of the month in the newsletter. I try to make it as simple as possible: something that the whole family can sit down to enjoy together. And at social events, I always include tasting sessions with samples of different dishes and dips.'
- Little Monkey's was winner of Nursery World's Nursery Food Award 2010. Look out for details of our 2012 winners, to be announced at our awards dinner on 28 September, online and in the magazine on 1 October.
www.littlemonkeysnursery.co.uk
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