Nursery Food Too Healthy For Toddlers!

[HappyMaz]

I had to look at the date when I saw this article.

 

Apparently children are being given too many fruit and vegetables in nursery settings, at the expense of the fat and calories they need to keep them healthy, resulting in hungry children...

 

We just can't get it right, apparently

 

Maz

[narnia]

oh dear.....................watch this space, Mrs Ofsted will soon have an additional area to check on! It's a minefield, isn't it??Though i know some groups still do the custard cream and a glass of squash thing, they must be few and far between, surely??Most groups are giving good, healthy snacks.............and in my group, we sometimes get 'told off' by parents, because the children eat rather well, and ask for the same things at home!!At my previous group, our snacks were photographed by our social services lady, so she could take them round to other groups to show them how good snack time could be..........we set an early benchmark for how things should be.Ah well, another course for us to be sent on, I suspect!

[Beau]

At our playgroup we always offer a carbohydrate option at the end of the snack after the children have had the fruit and veg. This works well for those children less disposed to the 'healthy' options!

 

I absolutely don't agree with the following statement:

 

"Sarah Almond, a consultant specialist paediatric dietician involved in compiling the report, said many nurseries had gone too far in banning certain foods such as chocolate or cake, since they hold some nutritional value for this age group, who have a higher need for calories and fat."

 

Children in general have far too much sugar in their diets and there is no need for any childcare setting to provide these. What on earth is wrong with good old toast?

[Inge]

we always supply toast or some form of carbohydrate and what with recent discussion on kind of milk we supply we still give full fat milk to the children too, but in addition they get the fruit, veg etc. as some will only eat these with us and not at home so offering them what we feel a good balance. Been doing this for last 10 years now... initially it was because bread was soooo much cheaper than the biscuits, but then dicovered they actually preferred it. We also use white bread as it hads more calcuim than wholemeal so overall a good option for this age group. (we slip in an occasional wholemeal day so they are used to both)

 

Inge

[Beau]

We also use white bread as it hads more calcuim than wholemeal so overall a good option for this age group. (we slip in an occasional wholemeal day so they are used to both)

 

Wholemeal options should be limited for small children in any case because of the high fibre content.

 

Wholemeal bread and wholegrain breakfast cereals are high in fibre. A small amount of fibre is important for health in pre-school children but too much can cause problems in still maturing guts and also reduce energy intakes by bulking up the diet.

 

Taken from PLA Healthy Eating

[Inge]

knew there was another reason just could not think of it..

 

Inge

[Guest]

We always have something like breadsticks when we have fruit and vegetables. We have toast, crackers and cheese spread and cheese, plus many others.

We asked the children what other things they would like, as long as it wasn't biscuits, crisps or chocolate. They had some really good ideas. One did suggest sprouts! I think he thought we would be cooking them! Don't think I could stand the smell all morning!

Linda

[Guest]

Just had a quick glance through this weeks N.World & I think i saw a similar write up near the front of the mag.

[TarasMum]

At our Pre-School we offer fruit on a daily basis. Usually once a week, we will get the children involved in a cooking activity that they can then also enjoy for their snack. This is sometimes pizza, sometimes cookies etc etc. They enjoy eating their own efforts.

 

We also regularly offer cheese and often breadsticks/crackers. It all depends on what the parents provide us with. We ask for healthy donations for the snack basket, and more often than not it is overflowing!

 

We only offer them milk or water and all children are then catered for.

 

We experimented with the cafe system for snack. but since taking children from 2, we have gone back to everyone stopping at the same time and all sitting down together. The younger children benefit from seeing a good example set (usually) by the older ones!!

[HappyMaz]

Though i know some groups still do the custard cream and a glass of squash thing,

And even get an 'outstanding' Ofsted in return

 

Edited to add: actually that might just have been squash only - can't remember about the custard creams!

Edited April 10, 2008 by HappyMaz

[Guest]

Surely it's a case of all things in moderation and using common sense.

We have toast and fruit with milk or water at snack time. Cakes and chocolate ( sadly ) are saved for special occasions such as birthdays.

 

Sally