21 - Why is healthy eating so important in early years - sparkearlyyears

The video focuses on why healthy eating is so important in the early years.
Louise Mercieca talks with Catherine from sparkearlyyears about the importance of nutrition in early years education and its role in child development, social skills, and well-being. It discusses challenges around planning healthy menus, accommodating dietary needs, and limiting processed foods. Louise highlights the necessity of fostering good eating habits early on, stressing portion control, self-regulation, and family-style dining to encourage positive mealtime experiences. We also touch on staff well-being, advocating for healthier food options in "well-being tables" and cautioning against sugar-filled choices.
👉🏼 How has your childhood shaped your habit with food?
#EYFSnutrition
Key Moments
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2:25 - Starts topic of healthy food in early years.
3:08 - Notes evolving standards for children’s nutrition.
3:42 - Observes lack of focus on nutrition in early years.
4:36 - Mentions employee nutrition’s impact on productivity.
5:01 - Encourages enthusiasm for healthy eating in early years.
5:27 - Critiques the “Eatwell Plate” as unsuitable for under-twos.
6:29 - Difficulties planning menus, sourcing affordable food.
7:51 - Balancing nutrition with other nursery priorities.
8:23 - Nutrition as complex but essential in early development.
11:19 - Managing allergies, intolerances, and preferences.
12:33 - Importance of prioritising children’s nutritional needs.
13:28 - Peer influence on children’s eating habits.
13:44 - Prioritising allergies amid “healthy eating” trends.
14:37 - Children’s nutritional needs differ from adults’.
14:44 - Cautions on vegan diets for young children.
15:02 - Plant-based diets need careful planning for children.
15:31 - Notes on environmental concerns of alternative milks.
16:23 - Children’s diets should align with their needs, not parental choices.
18:11 - Vegetarian diets may need supplements.
19:26 - Portion control to help children self-regulate.
21:21 - Self-service, no “clean plate” policy advised.
24:03 - Fewer snacks can encourage appetite for meals.
29:07 - Nursery menus: increase whole foods, reduce processed items.
30:00 - Chewing is essential for speech development.
31:00 - Risks of only smooth weaning; promotes textured foods.
31:54 - Plant-based nursery days; balance with fish/meat for brain support.
32:43 - Lentils as a nutrient-dense, economical food choice.
33:31 - Suggestions for balanced menus, cost-saving substitutions.
34:30 - Importance of checking processed food ingredients.
37:16 - Critique of processed plant-based market lacking nutrition.
39:00 - Avoid food as comfort or reward to build healthy habits.
42:30 - Sleep benefits of milk before bedtime.
43:50 - Foods to support alertness and engagement.
45:06 - Difficulty in breaking habits; importance of good habits for children.
45:40 - Emphasises communal dining and positive experiences.
46:16 - Notes on communal dining in other cultures.
46:27 - Critique of work-life balance affecting family meals.
47:07 - Importance of family connection during mealtimes.
47:31 - Lack of dining experiences at home for some children.
48:09 - Shared dining in childcare settings has value.
49:02 - Children learn by copying adults’ eating habits.
50:00 - Discussion on staff well-being.
50:21 - Increase in employee well-being initiatives.
51:02 - Critique of sugary, processed foods on “well-being tables.”
52:13 - Highlights sugar’s impact, especially on female health.
55:57 - Suggests fruit, teas for well-being tables.
56:42 - Differentiates treats from regular well-being support.
57:10 - Importance of separate treat occasions.

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👉🏼 How has your childhood shaped your habit with food?