Children's Nutrition Action Plan - The Food Commission

extrinsic sugars) than the
recommended maximum. Typically,
children consume approximately
double the recommended
maximum; 11
♦ 30% of pre-school children show
evidence of tooth decay – related to
frequent non-milk extrinsic sugar
consumption and infrequent teeth
brushing (although frequent
brushing of teeth did not appear to
outweigh the damaging effects of
frequent sugar consumption). 11 ,12,13, 22
♦ The National Diet and Nutrition
Survey (1995) showed clear
evidence of lower plasma levels of
folic acid and vitamin C in children
from low-income families 11 ;
• A breakdown of the energy intake of
British pre-school children shows:
Sweets account for 11% of energy;
Biscuits, buns, cakes and pastries: 9%;
Soft drinks: 6%; Chocolate: 5%; Potato
crisps, 4%; Savoury snacks: 4%. In
contrast, total vegetables, fruits and nuts
contributed 5%. 11
• Half of UK children between the ages
of 1 year and 18 months are given
sugar-sweetened or artificially
sweetened squash to drink. 14 In 1997, a
survey of pre-school children showed
that 86% were regularly drinking
sweetened soft drinks. 15 The survey also
showed that high levels of sugar
consumption correlated with poor
intakes of nutrients and dietary fibre. 15
• A survey of 21 top-selling baby biscuits
found many with excessive sugar levels
(up to 50%). 16 Biscuit consumption
showed the strongest links to poor
dental health in infants. 11
revision of training course to ensure that
qualified nursery nurses are trained in issues
relating to food and nurturing physical
activity and movement in pre-school
children. 22
• Good quality research to aid the development
of nutrition intervention programmes for preschool
children, based on recommended
guidelines from the Health Education
Authority:
♦ To allow for comparisons between data
from different studies; 23
♦ To build in evaluation to assist future
intervention work; 23
♦ To draw on best practice
recommendations from HEA assessments
of previous studies and interventions,
such as appropriate assessment tools for
young children, and the use of new
technologies to support nutrition
education; 23
♦ To ensure that studies and interventions
are in line with nationally accepted
nutritional principles. 23
• Studies of the long-term changes in behaviour
of nutrition intervention with pre-school
children. 23
• A survey of nutritional knowledge/practice in
nursery school staff.
• A requirement on nursery schools to conform
to a recognised nutritional programme, such
as the Caroline Walker Trust guidelines or
SM AP.
The Children’s Nutrition Action Plan, published by The Food Commission
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