How to manage children’s dietary requirements in childcare settings

How can practitioners manage children’s dietary requirements?

With communities become more diverse and allergies on the rise, it is important that practitioners are aware of all children’s dietary requirements. Managing this can be difficult especially in a large childcare settings especially with children who are not aware themselves of their allergies or food preferences. However difficult it is to manage children’s dietary requirements it is crucial that settings get this right and no mistakes are made as a child’s life could be on the line if they are given food they are allergic to.

Documentation used to inform practitioners of children’s dietary requirements

All registration forms should hold a section where parents can inform practitioners of any allergies, intolerances or religious food preferences. This may want to be again shared on a child’s all about me form. If a child does have an allergy it is important that practitioners discover how severe and the necessary steps that should be taken if a child does have an allergic reaction.

Steps in place to manage children’s dietary requirements

Some children may have epi pens, and if this is the case, a healthcare plan needs to be obtained from the doctor before the child starts the childcare setting, so everyone is fully aware of the necessary actions to manage the reaction. It may also be useful for the setting to create an allergy action plan again taking the information from the healthcare plan and putting a procedure to go with it such as information like parents contact information.  Some other things that can be done within childcare settings to support children’s dietary requirements may be….

• Complete daily dinner sheets – These may be a sheet containing the child’s name, any allergies and then the days of the week. These are then ticked each day by the room stating if the child is in nursery that day. These are they sent to the kitchen
• The kitchen may have a red dot procedure in place – This is a red dot which contains the name and allergy of the child. This is to ensure nothing is missed. The kitchen may also need to investigate the ingredients in various products and list any ingredients which may cause a reaction i.e. – Jelly contains gelatine not suitable for children who can’t have meat
• Each room may choose to have a red dot system in the room – This again is a large red dot which a child’s photo and allergy can be added to. This then ensures that any practitioners, bank staff, new staff, and students can be aware of any allergies and if they are unsure can check the red dot system quickly before handing out meals and food.
• Using a different coloured plate for children who have allergies – This ensures there is no confusion or mix-up between the meals which have been prepared separately to meet any dietary needs. This also helps the child to be aware that they have special requirements and can’t have some of the same foods as others.
• Place Mats – place mats which have a photo or name of the child and then list any dietary requirements. Children could decorate these themselves and take ownership of their placemats. This again helps to ensure there is no confusion over the children with allergies or preferences.

It may seem like some of these techniques are singling children out or breaking confidentiality however they are an excellent way to minimise as many risks as possible and ensure that all children are kept safe. It is important information regarding children’s dietary requirements is shared promptly, allowing measures to be put in place to reduce risks. Find copies of Red Dots to add photos and allergies to here.