CYPWF 4227-066 5.1 5.2
Unit 4227-066 5.1 5.2
Plan balanced meals,snacks and drinks for children in their early years, following current government guidance on nutritional needs.
Recognise why it is important to follow carer's instructions in respect of their child's food allergies and intolerance's.
During a child's early years it is essential to obtain a balanced diet due to their rapid growth, development, and activity levels. Children also begin to develop eating habits and patterns at this stage and therefore planning a good balanced meal, snack and drink will encourage them to continue a healthy eating pattern in the future. The government guidance on nutritional needs is extremely important and informative and can be easily accessed on line at www.food.gov.uk/nutguideuk.pdf. Here we can source all the information required to provide the children with a healthy balanced diet which should include, plenty of starchy foods such as rice, bread, pasta and potatoes, plenty of fruit and vegetables (although it states 5 a day, this has recently increased to 7 a day). A moderate amounts of protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and alternatives such as nuts and pulses. A moderate amount of milk and dairy, choosing reduced fat versions or eating smaller amounts of full fat versions, and less saturated fat, salt and sugar. They also recommend that children under the age of five who are not good eaters take a supplement containing vitamins A, D & C.
Having planned the snacks at my setting I am aware that it is important to include foods that help children have essential vitamins, minerals and fibre in as these are only present in small quantities in most foods and will ensure healthy growth and development in children. It is also important to consider what time of day they are eating, variety, childrens preferences, offering children new and interesting foods. Where possible we should try and allow the children to be involved in snack preparation as this will encourage them to
Plan balanced meals,snacks and drinks for children in their early years, following current government guidance on nutritional needs.
Recognise why it is important to follow carer's instructions in respect of their child's food allergies and intolerance's.
During a child's early years it is essential to obtain a balanced diet due to their rapid growth, development, and activity levels. Children also begin to develop eating habits and patterns at this stage and therefore planning a good balanced meal, snack and drink will encourage them to continue a healthy eating pattern in the future. The government guidance on nutritional needs is extremely important and informative and can be easily accessed on line at www.food.gov.uk/nutguideuk.pdf. Here we can source all the information required to provide the children with a healthy balanced diet which should include, plenty of starchy foods such as rice, bread, pasta and potatoes, plenty of fruit and vegetables (although it states 5 a day, this has recently increased to 7 a day). A moderate amounts of protein-rich foods such as meat, fish, eggs and alternatives such as nuts and pulses. A moderate amount of milk and dairy, choosing reduced fat versions or eating smaller amounts of full fat versions, and less saturated fat, salt and sugar. They also recommend that children under the age of five who are not good eaters take a supplement containing vitamins A, D & C.
Having planned the snacks at my setting I am aware that it is important to include foods that help children have essential vitamins, minerals and fibre in as these are only present in small quantities in most foods and will ensure healthy growth and development in children. It is also important to consider what time of day they are eating, variety, childrens preferences, offering children new and interesting foods. Where possible we should try and allow the children to be involved in snack preparation as this will encourage them to