Still too much sugar is being consumed!
Recent studies have shown that children in the UK are still consuming large quantities of sugar on a daily basis, with some children having four times the amount of sugar they should have. The implications of this are massive for children and will only continue to add to the rising child obesity levels and the levels of tooth decay in young children.
It would appear that parents and children have very little awareness of the levels of sugar in the foods they eat every day and in the drinks they choose. Often drinks have the most surprising levels of sugar, even in those drinks that appear to be the healthier choice.
Practitioner’s roles
As practitioners is vital that children are being empowered and given the knowledge they need from as young as possible about the choices they should be making. Ofsted will want to see as much evidence as possible that children are taught about healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle. As well as empowering the children, communicating effectively with parents is important. This does not always need to be through verbal communication but often handing out leaflets, display boards and friendly advice can offer all the support necessary.
Often debated by those in the childcare sector is whether particular foods such be referred to as ‘unhealthy’ and ‘healthy’ as some argue this causes children to see certain foods as bad and then later on this can cause issues such as anorexia. This is something to consider when teaching young children about ways they can empower their health however the terms ‘healthy’ and ‘unhealthy’ are sometimes the most simple way for children to understand the foods they should be eating lots of and the foods they should be eating less of.
It is also important that as practitioners the children are not only taught about healthier eating but also that a healthy eating culture is promoted within the setting. This can be done through ensuring the children have access to a balanced diet whilst in the setting. This can be done if the setting has a chef or if the parents are asked to provide meals then through the food policy. This should also be done by practitioners within the setting refraining from eating less healthy foods around the children, again this can be detailed in policy. If practitioners would like to have snacks or lunches around the children then they should be nutritious meals or snacks. Practitioners should eat for example fruit for a snack instead of crisps or refrain from eating chocolate and drinking sugary drinks during the day.
Children often learn from role modelling and there are various theories to support this. For this reason it is incredibly important that the role models that the children have during their time in an early years setting is setting the best example possible with regards to diet to help protect the health of the children around them.
Activities to empower children
- Hungry caterpillar – This is always a classic story used during the early years to help children learn about healthy eating.
- National children’s food festival – This happens once a year usually around September time and this is a whole week based around learning about food. This can include healthy eating!
- Exercise – It is important that all children get the exercise they need during the day, although this does not combat the issues of children eating too much sugar, it does lead to a healthier lifestyle
- Tooth brushing – Get a giant set of teeth and a tooth brush and show children how to correctly brush their teeth. You may also like to try and ask a dentist into the setting to build community relationships and teach the children the importance of looking after their teeth. Especially if they are consuming more sugar then ever
- Meal times – Talk to the children during meal times explaining which foods they should eat lots of and which foods they should eat less of. Also encourage the children to think about the sugar in their foods and what it might do to them if they eat too much. Be mindful and do not scare the children but it is important that they are aware so they can empower themselves
- Cooking – Get the children involved in preparing and cooking lots of healthy, well balanced meals and snacks. Not only does this empower the children but it can also help them develop in a variety of other areas.