Nutrition Guidance for Early Years Providers
Good nutrition is key to a child’s growth and development. In the UK, early years settings are now guided by new government advice: the “Nutrition Guidance for Early Years Providers.” This document gives nurseries, childminders, and early years practitioners clear advice on how to support the health of children aged 0–5 through balanced meals and positive food routines.
Let’s break down the main points—and explore how Talaxy, TASC Software’s school and parent communication platform, can help.
Feeding Babies: Birth to One Year
For infants, feeding should be responsive. This means recognising signs of hunger and fullness and responding calmly and appropriately. For the first six months, babies need only breast milk or infant formula.
From six months, solid foods can be introduced slowly. Start with mashed or puréed vegetables. Then move on to thicker textures as the child develops chewing skills. Try to offer a variety of flavours to help form healthy eating habits early on.
Feeding Children: One to Five Years
As children grow, their meals should include the four main food groups:
- Fruit and vegetables – at least five portions a day
- Starchy foods like pasta, rice, or potatoes
- Proteins – meat, fish, eggs, or plant-based alternatives
- Dairy products or fortified alternatives
Offer food and drink at regular times. Children should drink mostly water or milk. Limit sugary snacks and salty foods. It’s also important to let children decide when they’ve had enough, to help them build a healthy relationship with food.
Inclusive Menus and Safe Practices
Planning meals is about more than nutrition. It also means being inclusive and keeping children safe. Providers need to:
- Meet religious, cultural, and allergy-related dietary needs
- Communicate regularly with parents or carers
- Follow food hygiene and safety guidelines
- Keep mealtimes relaxed and positive
Managing this takes time and coordination—especially in busy early years settings.
How Talaxy Helps
Talaxy isn’t a nutrition tracker, but it supports many tasks linked to food and wellbeing. Early years providers can use Talaxy to:
- Record and share dietary needs and allergy alerts
- Send messages or updates to parents about meals or issues
- Keep staff informed with secure access to dietary records
With everything in one place, communication becomes easier. Parents stay informed. Children’s needs are met. Everyone benefits.
Conclusion
The UK’s early years nutrition guidance gives settings a clear goal: support children’s health with good food and smart routines. Tools like Talaxy help providers manage the day-to-day details—like sharing updates and keeping track of dietary needs. That means more time spent supporting children, and less time chasing paperwork.
