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Eating well for under-5s in child care Practical and nutritional guidelines Second Edition By Dr Helen Crawley © The Caroline Walker Trust, 1998, 2006 First edition: ISBN 1 897820 07 0 This edition: ISBN 1 897820 21 6 Published by: The Caroline Walker Trust PO Box 61 St Austell PL26 9YL www.cwt.org.uk Registered charity number: 328580 Edited and produced by Wordworks, London W4 2HY. Acknowledgements The Caroline Walker Trust would like to thank the Food Standards Agency for funding the updating of the Eating Well for Under-5s in Child Care report. This second edition of the report was written by Dr Helen Crawley. Thanks are due to all those who were involved in the production of the 1998 edition of this report, particularly Anne Dillon-Roberts and the other members of the Expert Working Group (see below). Thanks are also due to all those who kindly reviewed this second edition, in particular: Jamie Blackshaw and colleagues at the Food Standards Agency, Anne Dillon-Roberts, Helen Glyn-Davies, Judy More, Richard Watt and Martin Wiseman. Special thanks also go to Gemma Hoffman for her help in preparing the sample menus in chapter 6. Design by Information Design Workshop. Cover illustration based on a drawing by Matthew, aged 4. Members of the Expert Working Group These are the members of the Expert Working Group which produced the first edition of this report. Their affiliations are as at 1998 when the first edition was published. Anne Dillon Roberts (Chair) Trustee of the Caroline Walker Trust The text and tables in this report can be photocopied by anyone involved in providing food for under-5s, provided that an acknowledgement is made to the Caroline Walker Trust. Diane Brown Operations Director, Apetito Services, Apetito Group Chris Dallimore Principal Registration and Inspection Officer (Children), Sefton Borough Council Pauline Emmett Head, Nutrition Team, Avon Longitudinal Study of Pregnancy and Childhood (ALSPAC), University of Bristol Further copies of this report are available from: The Caroline Walker Trust 22 Kindersley Way Abbots Langley Herts WD5 0DQ www.cwt.org.uk Gill Haynes Chief Executive, National Childminding Association Dr Margaret Lawson Senior Lecturer in Paediatric Nutrition, Institute of Child Health, London Morag MacKellar Head of Nutrition and Dietetics, Central Scotland Healthcare NHS Trust Margaret Mason Task Chair for Quality, Registration and Inspection, National Private Day Nurseries Association For details of other publications from the Caroline Walker Trust see www.cwt.org.uk Maggie Sanderson Principal Lecturer in Nutrition and Dietetics, University of North London, and Chair of the Caroline Walker Trust Jane Thomas Lecturer, Department of Nutrition and Dietetics, King’s College, London Dr Richard Watt Senior Lecturer, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London Advisers Professor Dame Barbara Clayton Honorary Research Professor in Metabolism, University of Southampton Professor Aubrey Sheiham Professor of Dental Public Health, Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London Ann Robinson Early Childhood Unit, National Children’s Bureau Marion Witton Chair, National Heads of Registration and Inspection Units Observers Dr Petra Clarke Department of Health Dr Jennifer Woolfe Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Secretariat 2 Dr Helen Crawley Writer and researcher Rosie Leyden Editor, Wordworks Sarah Ivatts Administrator Foreword The Caroline Walker Trust is dedicated to the improvement of public health through good food. Established in 1988 to continue the work of the distinguished nutritionist, writer and campaigner Caroline Walker, the Trust is a charity which undertakes specific projects as a result of grants and donations. A major part of our work is to produce expert reports which establish nutritional guidelines for vulnerable groups. Eating Well for Under-5s in Child Care was originally produced by the Trust in 1998, and has been widely used in public health nutrition since that time. The impetus for the original expert report came from a recognition that increasing numbers of under-5s were spending long periods of time in child care outside their own homes – in local authority or private nurseries, with childminders, or in other forms of child care. This continues to be the case, and while there has been a significant increase of interest in the importance of eating well among the early years sector, the need for clear, evidence-based information for this group remains essential. There is evidence that the diets of under-5s in the UK are too low in vitamins A and C, too low in iron and zinc and, for some groups of children, too low in vitamin D. Children’s diets also contain too few fruits and vegetables, too much of the type of sugars that most contribute to tooth damage, and too much salt. However, until the publication of the first edition of this report in 1998 there were no nutritional guidelines for food prepared for children in childcare settings across the UK. Recent work in Scotland has produced foodbased and nutrient-based standards for use in nursery care which are to be welcomed and the Caroline Walker Trust (CWT) urges all areas of the UK to make clear, nutrient-based standards for under-5s in child care a mandatory part of the framework of care we offer. Nutrientbased standards pioneered by CWT have been adopted for school lunches across the UK and we hope that in other areas of public life, where there is a duty of care to those for whom food is provided, there will be recognition that nutrient-based standards are the simplest and most flexible way of ensuring people eat well. We believe that nutrient-based standards are simple and manageable and in chapter 6 we give a detailed explanation of how they have been calculated and why we encourage their use. Healthy eating and physical activity are vital for proper growth and development in childhood. Those who provide child care are in a unique position to have a positive influence not only on the nutritional intake of these children but also on the knowledge and attitudes the children have towards food and a healthy lifestyle. We have been very encouraged and impressed by the support and enthusiasm of those who provide child care. They clearly recognise the important role they can play in encouraging healthy development through good food. We hope that this second edition of our report will be used as the basis for the promotion of healthy, balanced diets for the under-5s and that our new, more comprehensive nutritional guidelines are accepted as standards for children in child care. Joe Harvey Chair of the Caroline Walker Trust 3 Contents 4 Chapter 1 Summary and recommendations 6 Chapter 2 Why nutritional guidelines are needed The diet of under-5s in Britain Under-5s in child care Food provision in child care Aims of this report Who the report is for 14 14 14 15 17 17 Chapter 3 Nutrition and 1-4 year olds Energy (calories) Fat Carbohydrates Protein Fibre Vitamins Minerals 19 20 21 22 24 25 26 32 Chapter 4 Infant nutrition Milk for babies Weaning (starting on solid foods) Drinks for infants 38 38 40 42 Chapter 5 Encouraging children to eat well Eating a variety of foods Fruit and vegetables Food for all Physical activity Drinks for the under-5s Dental health among the under-5s Commercial foods for babies and children Vegetarian diets Special diets Dairy-free diets Food allergy Diet, behaviour and learning in children Children with special needs Food safety and good hygiene Eating patterns and timing of meals and snacks How carers can encourage eating well Dealing with food refusal Learning through food Listening to children Involving and listening to parents and guardians Bringing food from home Food for special occasions Developing a nutrition policy Healthy eating awards 44 44 45 46 46 47 50 51 51 52 52 52 53 53 53 54 55 56 56 57 57 58 58 59 60 Contents Chapter 6 Appendix 1 Appendix 2 Appendix 3 Appendix 4 Appendix 5 Index Nutritional guidelines and menu planning Why nutrient-based standards are the most effective way to improve menu planning How the nutrient-based standards have been calculated Nutrient-based standards for food prepared for 1-4 year olds in child care: SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS How do the standards translate into specific nutrients for groups of children of different ages? Nutrient-based standards for food prepared for 1-4 year olds in child care Nutrient-based standards for food prepared for 1-2 year olds in child care Nutrient-based standards for food prepared for 3-4 year olds in child care Recommendations for menu planners Sample menus Cost factors National Standards for Childcare Good sources of vitamins and minerals Dietary Reference Values for energy and nutrients for under-5s Food-related customs Useful addresses and further information 61 61 62 65 66 66 67 68 69 72 73 76 78 81 83 84 88 5 Chapter 1 Summary and recommendations Summary This report deals with children up to their fifth birthday. The term infants applies to children up to 12 months. The term under-5s applies to 1-4 year olds – ie. children from the age of 12 months up to their fifth birthday. The term carers applies to staff working in child care and early years settings including local authority and private nurseries, and childminders. Healthy eating and physical activity are essential for proper growth and development in childhood. To help children develop patterns of healthy eating from an early age, it is important We are eating our lunch Siân, aged 5 6 Chapter 1 Summary and recommendations that the food and eating patterns to which they are exposed – both at home and outside the home – are those which promote positive attitudes to good nutrition. Growing children need plenty of energy (calories) and nutrients to ensure they grow and develop well, and they need to eat a good variety of foods, including lots of fruits and vegetables, to make sure they get all the other important dietary components they need. A good appetite will usually make sure they get enough energy from the food they eat. However, there is evidence1 that: • the diets of children under 5 in Britain are: – too low in vitamin A – too low in vitamin C – too low in iron – too low in zinc, and • their diets contain: – too much of the type of sugars that most contribute to tooth damage, and – too much salt, which can contribute to higher blood pressure. In addition, some children in the UK have low vitamin D status which can lead to poor bone health.2 Intakes of meat, fish, vegetables and fruit are generally low. An increase in the intakes of these foods would help to ensure that children have the right amounts of vitamins, minerals and other dietary components for healthy growth and development. Eating is an important part of everyone’s life. Encouraging children to eat healthily does not mean denying them food they enjoy. Healthy eating is about getting a varied, balanced diet and enjoying lots of different foods. Under-5s in child care The number of children who spend some time being cared for outside the family home has risen dramatically in recent years. In 2005 it was reported that there were over 1.5 million registered childcare places in England compared with around 637,000 in 1997 3 and of these 21% were with childminders, 52% in day care nurseries and 24% in out-of-school clubs. (Child care provision in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland is summarised in chapter 2.) Day care providers therefore supply an increasing proportion of the total food eaten by a considerable number of children across the UK, many of whom will be under 5 years of age. The way forward In 1998 the Caroline Walker Trust identified a need for clear, practical guidelines which encourage healthy eating among the under-5s in child care. With the support of the Department of Health, the Trust brought together an Expert Working Group to produce nutritional guidelines which were published in the first edition of Eating Well for Under5s in Child Care. This second edition, which has been supported by the Food Standards Agency, provides updated guidance and more comprehensive nutrient-based standards. These indicate the proportion of energy and nutrients that should optimally be provided during child care. Specific nutrient-based standards are given for food prepared for: • 3-4 year olds in full-day or half-day child care, or for those having individual meals and snacks while in child care. The nutrient-based standards are shown and explained in chapter 6. Information on nutrition – which readers may find helpful in interpreting the nutrient-based standards – is given in chapter 3. Chapter 6 also gives some foodbased guidance for menu planners as well as some sample menus which meet the nutrientbased standards. These will give readers an idea of how the standards can be translated into practice. Additional practical information on how the standards can be achieved can be found in Eating Well for Under-5s in Child Care: Training Materials.4 This report also gives recommendations about food choice and food service and about the importance of physical activity. The provision of a well balanced diet to infants and under-5s is crucial to children’s health and wellbeing. The Caroline Walker Trust recommends that the nutrientbased standards and other recommendations contained in this report should become standards for child care and that they should inform those who inspect and register childcare provision. • 1-4 year olds in full-day or half-day child care, or for those having individual meals and snacks while in child care • 1-2 year olds in full-day or half-day child care, or for those having individual meals and snacks while in child care, and 7 Chapter 1 Summary and recommendations Recommendations The following recommendations apply to 1-4 year olds (ie. children aged between 12 months up to their fifth birthday), unless otherwise specified. Separate recommendations for infants up to the age of 12 months are given on page 12. Nutritional guidelines 1 Nutrient-based standards for food for under-5s in child care are given on pages 65-68 of this report. These should become standards for child care across all settings. 2 Government departments should include reference to these nutrient-based standards in all guidance and legislation affecting child care. 3 Government, local authorities and other providers such as Sure Start and Children’s Centres should include nutrition and nutrientbased standards in development plans for children under 5 in child care, and in plans for early years services and education. 4 The recommendations in this report should be used as part of the training guidance to all those who inspect nurseries, crèches, out-of-school care and childminders. 5 All those who inspect childcare services in the UK should monitor the nutritional standards of the food served in the childcare and other early years settings they visit. Inspectors’ reports should include comments on food and nutrition. Any childcare setting that does not meet the standards should seek advice from a registered dietitian or registered public health nutritionist. 6 Childcare and other early years settings should be required, as part of the registration process, to demonstrate that they are committed to providing food which meets the standards outlined in this report. 7 Inspectors should look for management commitment to good nutrition and encourage childcare settings to engage in suitable nutrition training for all staff. Nursery owners, managers, caterers, childminders and others responsible for early years services should seek appropriate information and training on how to meet the nutrient-based standards. 8 NVQs, SVQs and the Certificate in Childcare and Education (CCE) are important training opportunities for carers and other early years staff. Qualifications for those caring for under-5s should contain an appropriate section on nutrition and healthy eating which allows students to understand the nutritional guidelines in this report. 8 Chapter 1 Summary and recommendations 9 The European Commission should take account of the nutrient-based standards in this report when looking at European-wide nutritional standards for under-5s within the Community. Eating for health 10 Children should be encouraged to eat a varied diet. They should eat foods from each of the four main food groups every day. The four main food groups are: • bread, other cereals and potatoes • fruit and vegetables • milk and dairy foods, and • meat, fish and alternatives such as eggs, pulses (peas, beans and lentils) and soya. A varied diet is associated with better health as it is more likely to contain all the nutrients the body needs. 11 Fruit and vegetables are particularly important for good health. Under-5s should be encouraged to taste at least five different fruits and vegetables a day. 12 Vitamin C is important in maintaining good health and may have a role in helping the body to absorb iron if both nutrients are present in the same meal. Under-5s should be encouraged to eat foods containing vitamin C at meals – for example most fruit and fruit juices, potatoes, broccoli and other green vegetables, tomatoes and peppers. 13 It is recommended that children up to the age of 5 years should receive vitamin drops containing vitamins A, C and D. This is the responsibility of the parents or guardians but carers could provide information to parents and guardians about where to find out more about them. 14 The iron intake of children under 5 is lower than currently recommended and there is evidence to suggest that low iron status is common in this age group. Under-5s should therefore eat a diet that is high in iron-rich food such as meat, poultry and fish, as well as fruits and vegetables. (Meat and meat dishes are also a good source of zinc.) Children who do not eat meat should have a varied diet containing foods such as cereals, pulses (peas, beans and lentils), vegetables and fruits. 15 The intakes of the type of sugars in the diet which most contribute to tooth decay are higher than recommended among the under-5s. If children have sugary foods, these should be given with meals rather than as snacks between meals. Children do not need sugary foods such as sweets, chocolate, soft drinks or honey for energy. Starchy foods – such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and yam – are better sources of energy (calories) as these foods contain other important nutrients too. 16 It is important that the under-5s get enough energy (calories) for growth and development. While adults and children aged over 5 are encouraged to eat a diet that is high in starchy foods and low in fat, younger children on this sort of diet may not have the appetite to eat enough food to provide all the nutrients they need. Carers should therefore be sensitive to the needs of children who are fussy eaters or small eaters and ensure that these children are offered a good variety of food that they will accept. Physical activity and outdoor play 17 Children should be encouraged to be physically active and carers should timetable periods of activity into the children’s daily routine throughout the year. Physical activity helps to ensure that children eat enough food and get all the nutrients they need. It also builds up muscle strength and overall fitness, develops physical skills such as balance and coordination, and provides a release for children’s energy. 18 It is essential that there is outdoor space where children can play, or access to an outside area such as a garden, park or other safe open space. Exposure to summer sunlight in outdoor play helps children to maintain their vitamin D status. However, childcare settings should have a ‘sun policy’, with guidelines on how long children can remain outdoors in strong sunshine, and on the use of protective clothing such as sunhats, and a sun screen. All under-5s should be appropriately supervised at all times while outdoors. 19 Children in child care should have access to toys for active play – for example balls, hoops and skipping ropes. Drinks for 1-4 year olds 20 Children should be encouraged to drink tap water if they are thirsty. Water quenches thirst, 9 Chapter 1 Summary and recommendations does not spoil the appetite, and does not damage teeth. 21 Milk is a good drink for 1-4 year olds. Whole cow’s milk is suitable as a main drink for most children from 12 months of age. Semi-skimmed milk can be introduced gradually after the age of 2 years, provided that the child is a good eater and has a varied diet. Skimmed milk is not suitable as the main drink for children under 5 years of age. 22 Diluted fruit juice is a useful source of vitamin C. Children should be encouraged to have a glass of diluted fruit juice with their main meal or with breakfast as this may also help the body to absorb iron. 23 Children should be discouraged from having fizzy drinks and squashes (including fruit squashes and fruit juice drinks), including diet, non-diet and low-sugar varieties, as these can erode the tooth enamel and contribute to tooth decay. Also, they provide little in the way of nutrients, and children who drink them frequently may have less appetite to eat well at mealtimes. 24 If children are given soft drinks (such as squashes) containing the intense sweetener saccharin, these should be diluted more than they would be for an adult or older child – for example, 1 part squash to at least 10 parts water. 25 Children who bring their own drinks to child care should be encouraged to bring a plastic flask or a lidded plastic cup containing an appropriately diluted drink. Many ready-to-drink cartons of squashes, fruit drinks and fruit juices have a high sugar content and cannot be diluted if they are drunk straight from the pack. 26 Tea and coffee are not suitable drinks for under-5s as they contain tannic acid which interferes with iron absorption. Dental health 27 If children are having sugary foods and drinks, these should be given with meals rather than between meals. This is because children’s first teeth are prone to decay if they are frequently in contact with sugars. It is important to reduce both the frequency and the total amount of sugar and sugary foods that children eat. 10 28 To help the healthy development of teeth, children should not be given sweet drinks (such as fruit juice, squashes and other soft drinks) in a bottle or dinky feeder. An open cup or beaker which does not require the child to suck should be used if these drinks are given with meals. 29 If a child uses a dummy or comforter, it should never be dipped into sugar or sugary drinks, as this can contribute to tooth decay. 30 Some soft drinks which claim to have ‘no added sugar’ still contain sugars which are harmful to the teeth. Diet drinks, both fizzy and still, can also be harmful to the teeth. This is because they may be acidic and erode the dental enamel, especially if sipped frequently. The use of these drinks should be avoided. Food hygiene and safety issues 31 Carers should always wash their hands with soap and water before preparing food or helping children to eat, and after changing nappies and toileting children. If carers use a handkerchief while preparing food, they should wash their hands before continuing. 32 Children’s hands should always be washed with soap and water before meals and snacks, and after going to the toilet. 33 Carers need to be aware of the requirements of the Food Safety Act. Some carers may need to complete a Food Hygiene Certificate course. Further information on this can be obtained from the local authority’s environmental health department, or from its registration and inspection unit. 34 Carers also need to be aware of food safety issues such as storage of food and use of leftover food, and thorough cooking or heating of foods. Several useful publications are available from the Food Standards Agency (see Appendix 5). Carers should obtain and follow the advice in these. Some of the main points for carers are given in chapter 5. 35 Children under 5 should never be left alone while they are eating, in case they choke. See also Food hygiene and safety issues for infants on page 13.