Food and nutrition curriculum support
This page is to support settings to reflect on and develop the curriculum to ensure that children are exposed to a variety of food experiences and to reduce health inequalities.
Good nutrition is important to make sure children:
- Get the right amount of nutrients they need while they are growing rapidly
- Do not consume too much food, which may lead them to become overweight or obese
Offering children a wide range of foods, textures and flavours can help increase the variety of foods children will eat. This can encourage healthier eating habits later in childhood. This is especially important during this time of early growth and development.
The early years:
...is a crucial time to help to reduce health inequalities throughout a child’s life. Some children might not have access to healthy food at home for a number of reasons. You can help influence children’s food choices, which may influence their parent’s choice of food... Cooking is a great experience for young children and helps to create a positive relationship with food. Some children have limited opportunities to cook or learn about food at home. You can plan fun activities for children in your own setting and also suggest activities they can do with their parents and/or carers at home." Help for early years providers
Providing fun food activities for children can support all areas of learning, helping to develop:
- Confidence and interest in foods
- Emotional wellbeing as children participate in group activities and feel proud of their achievements
- Language and to learn new vocabulary
- Physical development and skills including gross and fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination
- Relationships with other children and adults
- Mathematics through counting and measuring
- Sciences and the results of mixing, cooking and cooling foods
- An understanding the world around them and where foods come from, how vegetables are grown and sustainability
- Diversity and culture – children can learn where foods come from and how different cultures use different cooking techniques
Southampton research on introducing healthy eating into the curriculum SHOW
Healthy eating curriculum SHOW
Risk assessment and food safety SHOW
Further helpful links SHOW
Supporting parents and learning together SHOW
Funding SHOW
Support with climate action planning SHOW
