Healthy eating for 1–3 year‐olds: A food‐based guide

Abstract

The UK's eatwell plate is a visual representation of the types and proportions of foods needed for a healthy, balanced diet. The Department of Health states that it can be gradually applied from the age of 2 years and applied in full from 5 years. However, there are currently no widely available specific food-based models for 1-3 year-olds (toddlers). The British Nutrition Foundation, with advice from an expert group, reviewed current dietary guidelines in the UK for 1-3 year-olds in order to develop a visual food-based resource depicting the main messages around healthy eating for toddlers. This article provides a summary of the development of this resource, which was produced to help parents, carers, health professionals and early years providers to understand and communicate the basics of healthy eating for this age group and consider other issues such as suitable snacking, healthy hydration, suitable portion sizes and advice regarding supplementation. It is hoped that this resource will help toddlers to establish good dietary habits that will persist into later life.

Nutrition in the early years – laying the foundations for healthy eating

“…BNF has developed a food‐based guide with clear visual examples for feeding 1–3 year‐olds (Benelam et al . ). This is all the more important when it is known that mothers select amounts for their children based on what they serve themselves (Johnson et al .…”

“…Families more generally benefit from advice and guidance on what and how much to offer children. BNF has developed a food-based guide with clear visual examples for feeding 1-3 year-olds (Benelam et al 2015). This is all the more important when it is known that mothers select amounts for their children based on what they serve themselves (Johnson et al 2014;McCrickerd & Forde 2016).…”

Childcare and childhood obesity – what's the risk?

“…Food and drink recommendations for children aged 1–4 years are also available from the Caroline Walker Trust (Caroline Walker Trust ) and the British Nutrition Foundation (Benelam et al . ). The Children's Food Trust's detailed report, published in 2012, explains the types and amounts of foods and drinks children aged 0–5 years need to consume, and how frequently, to meet nutrient and energy requirements (based upon UK Dietary Reference Values as they were in 2012).…”

“…As detailed mandatory food standards for early years' childcare providers are not available, to help explain what the EYFS framework means in practice, voluntary comprehensive guidelines have been published by the Children's Food Trust (2012) and these guidelines have been well received although data on the uptake/impact is yet to reach the public domain. Food and drink recommendations for children aged 1-4 years are also available from the Caroline Walker Trust (Caroline Walker Trust 2014) and the British Nutrition Foundation (Benelam et al 2015). The Children's Food Trust's detailed report, published in 2012, explains the types and amounts of foods and drinks children aged 0-5 years need to consume, and how • 'Children must also be helped to understand the importance of physical activity and to make healthy choices in relation to food' (page 8)…”

Cultivating self‐regulatory eating behaviours during childhood: The evidence and opportunities

“…In the UK, organisations such as the Children's Food Trust () and the British Nutrition Foundation (Benelam et al . ) provide portion size advice and recommendations for toddlers and children, though reports of how these resources are accepted and used by parents and caregivers are not available. Research studies have found that serving size labelling (Spanos et al .…”