nutritional guidance for early years: food choices for children aged 1-5 years in early education and childcare settings

nutritional guidance for early years: food choices for children aged 1-5 years in early education and childcare settings

annex 1- nutrient guidance for children aged 1-5 years

The nutrient guidance in Annex 1 gives guidance for adequate food and nutrition provision for children aged 1-3 years old and 4-5 years old. Children, as individuals, have different energy and nutrient requirements depending on their age, gender, body size, rate of growth and level of activity. In the UK we have estimates for the average amount of energy and nutrients required for groups of children at different ages. These are known as the UK Dietary Reference Values (DRVs). The nutrient standards in this document are based on the UK DRVs for groups of children aged 1-3 years and 4-6 years. The standards have been based on energy requirements of boys, which are marginally higher than for girls. As such the nutrient standards represent average requirements for groups of children and do not apply to individual children. Also, for young children, there are no hard and fast rules about what must be served as a breakfast, a snack, a light meal or a main meal. Depending on the likes and dislikes of the children, their appetite, their willingness to try foods, food items can be interchanged for snacks, meals or breakfast. For this reason it was more appropriate to set nutrient standards based on a combination of one meal and one snack (including drinks) rather than for snacks, meals and drinks individually.

Therefore the figures in Table 1 represent the recommended average energy and nutrient intake from the combination of one meal plus one snack (averaged over 5 days). This is because nutrient requirements are met over a period of time, rather than within one day. These would apply, for example, to children who are in the early years setting for half a day, 5 days per week, and receive a snack and meal at each session. We have also given (Table 2) the recommended average energy and nutrient intake from food provided for children who are in day care for more than 8 hours per day (based on provision of breakfast, two meals and two snacks). Annex 2 outlines key issues with regard to achieving the guidance on iron, salt and Vitamin D.

To assist in food choices and menus to meet the nutrient standards, menu-planning guidance and sample menu plans (10 days) for children in both age groups are provided in section 2.4. These menus are designed to meet the guidance (with the exception of salt and Vitamin D - see Annex 2). They aim to be sample menus and do not pertain to cover the full spectrum of food choices suitable for this age group. In practice the foods appropriate for both age groups are similar, but the quantities and the way in which the food is presented may differ.

Tables 1 and 2 set out nutrient standards for groups of children in each of the respective age groups for energy and key nutrients as a percentage of nationally agreed Dietary Reference Values.

Table 1: Nutrient Standards for snack and meal combination. For example: provision for children who are in the early years setting for half days during the week, and receive a snack and meal at each session.

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

The amount which satisfies 50% of the children in a group (defined by age and gender).

Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI)

The amount of a nutrient which is sufficient to meet the dietary requirements for about 97% of the children in a group (defined by age and sometimes by gender). Intakes above this amount will almost certainly be adequate.

Percentage of energy (%)

Energy in kilojoules (KJ) provided as fat, carbohydrate and non-milk extrinsic sugars.

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

Salt and Health (2003) London www.sacn.gov.uk

a Non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES): these are added sugars (or free, e.g. fruit juice) in foods, e.g. sweets, biscuits, soft drinks, added to breakfast cereals, table sugar, honey, sugar in fruit juice. NMES does not include sugars which are integrally present in the cells of food, e.g. fruit and vegetables or milk sugar (lactose).

Table 2: Nutrient Standards for full day provision (around 8 hours). For example: provision for children who are in the early years setting for full days during the week, and receive breakfast, two meals and two snacks at each session.

Estimated Average Requirement (EAR)

The amount which satisfies 50% of the children in a group (defined by age and gender).

Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI)

The amount of a nutrient which is sufficient to meet the dietary requirements for about 97% of the children in a group (defined by age and sometimes by gender). Intakes above this amount will almost certainly be adequate.

Percentage of energy (%)

Energy in kilojoules (KJ) provided as fat, carbohydrate and non-milk extrinsic sugars.a

Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN)

Salt and Health (2003) London www.sacn.gov.uk

a Non-milk extrinsic sugars (NMES): these are added sugars (or free, e.g. fruit juice) in foods, e.g. sweets, biscuits, soft drinks, added to breakfast cereals, table sugar, honey, sugar in fruit juice. NMES does not include sugars which are integrally present in the cells of food, e.g. fruit and vegetables or milk sugar (lactose).