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Survey results

658 settings responded to the nutritional survey which appeared in the March edition of Under 5. This survey has provided us with important information that will inform the Feeding Young Imaginations campaign.

Responses

Of the settings that responded to the survey:

• 96 per cent provide snacks
• 19 per cent provide a breakfast service
• 20 per cent provide lunches
• 17 per cent provide tea

Settings also reported that 43 per cent of children bring in lunchboxes.

Of the settings that provide food, 86 per cent prepare their own food on-site.

Key findings

Of the settings that provide snacks, 85 per cent spend under 75p per child, with 69 per cent of those spending under 50p.

Of the 125 settings that provide a breakfast service, 80 per cent spend under 75p per child.

22 per cent of settings spend under 75p on lunch for each child, whilst 20 per cent of settings spend £1.75 or more per child.

Lunchboxes

43 per cent of respondents have children who bring in lunchboxes and the survey showed that:

• 27 per cent of settings were extremely or very satisfied with the nutritional value of lunchboxes being provided by parents
• 43 per cent of settings were reasonably satisfied with the lunchboxes provided by parents
• 30 per cent of settings were dissatisfied with the quality of the lunchboxes provided

Challenges and support

The biggest challenge faced by settings in providing healthy food was the cost of food, followed by accommodating children’s tastes. 97 per cent of all our respondents felt that government could be doing more to support healthy eating for children under five. Of these, over half (55 per cent) believed that financial support should be extended to providing free fruit and vegetables within all early years settings. This shows that the importance of eating fruit and vegetables and the 5-a-day message has been taken on board, which is very positive.

Achieving balance

However, it is crucial that balance across all food groups is achieved. A study of nurseries in East Sussex recently revealed that four out of five of the participating nurseries were giving children portions which were too small and only three in ten provided children with meals containing enough calories. Sarah Almond,the dietician who undertook the study, was quoted in the Observer newspaper as saying ‘we expected the study to show nurseries were serving children food that was too high in calories, saturated fat and salt and low in vegetables and fruit. Instead we found that the majority of nurseries had gone to the other extreme and appeared to be providing food that was too low in calories, fat and saturated fat and too high in fruit and vegetables’. She continued, 'This situation was putting children at risk of developing nutritional deficiencies.’

Next steps

The Alliance has long argued that a comprehensive programme of funding for nutritional guidance and resources is needed to dispel the myths and communicate the facts about healthy eating for the under-fives. It is crucial that nutritionally balanced and varied diets are an everyday reality for our very youngest children to protect the long-term health of the nation.

Lunch