Nutrition matters for the early years - Health Promotion Agency

Foreword
What we eat can play a critical role in determining our health, whatever our age. The
eating patterns established in the first few years of life influence our health during
childhood and adulthood. Encouraging good nutrition during the early years of life is
therefore an investment for the health of our population in years to come.
With more parents working, increasing numbers of children are spending long periods of
time in childcare outside their own homes. This has implications for their dietary intake as
a large proportion of meals and snacks are now eaten away from home. Childminders
and the staff in nurseries and playgroups, therefore, have a crucial role to play in
promoting healthy nutrition in young children.
The Health Promotion Agency for Northern Ireland (HPA) and the Health and Social
Services Boards have been working to promote and encourage good nutrition for young
children for a number of years. As a result of this work, and particularly in response to a
need highlighted by community dietitians throughout Northern Ireland and the HPA,
nutritional guidelines for children in day nurseries and playgroups were developed.
Nutrition matters for the early years: guidance for feeding under fives in the childcare
setting was published by the HPA in 2001. This document was based on current
government guidelines, good practice and advice from a wide range of people involved
in both childcare and children’s health. Nutrition matters for the early years provided day
nurseries and playgroups with information on a range of nutritional issues relating to
children up to the age of five.
It became clear that there was a similar need for information among childminders caring
for children under five years of age. After consulting with those who had been involved
with the original document and also the Northern Ireland Childminding Association, this
document, Nutrition matters for the early years: healthy eating for the under fives in
childcare was produced. Adapted to be suitable for day nurseries, playgroups and
home-based childcarers, it provides straightforward practical advice and information on a
range of nutrition related issues and in particular advice on how to ensure a healthy diet
is provided for the children in their care.
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