Why such a high emphasis on healthy eating?

Why healthy eating is so important

The new Ofsted framework places a high emphasis on early years settings and schools to promote healthy eating, with the outcome stating children should have knowledge of how to eat healthy. One way you can give children the knowledge they need as well as develop in all areas of the early years foundation stage is through cooking activities. This will equip children with the skills they need to help prepare healthy meals or snacks. This knowledge may then also be passed on to parents so they can carry on promoting healthy eating in the home. This knowledge is a powerful gift to give to children, it helps them take responsibility for their own health and wellbeing and allows them to tackle the fight against obesity. For the children to grow up healthy and to learn and function throughout the day it is important that they are not hungry or thirsty. Having regular healthy snacks and meals will give children all the energy they need to actively get through the day. Why not try one of these recipes with the children, even the younger ones and then share them with the parents. Find out more on how you can support these new requirements of healthy eating here.

Fruit Skewers

Ingredients – Any soft fruits will work for this recipe

• Bananas
• Grapes
• Strawberries
• Mango
• Nectarine
• Plum

Equipment

• Children’s knives
• Wooden kebab skewers

Recipe –

• Talk about the names of the fruits, how they grow and what makes them healthy. It is important to discuss the properties of food and which food group category they fall into to increase children’s knowledge of healthy eating.
• Give a demonstration of preparing the fruits, cutting them into smaller pieces and peeling the skins.
• Allow the children to cut the fruit into small pieces, talk about the smells, textures and which ones they like or dislike. Offer support to those who need it, they may need help removing skins and stones.
• Once the fruit is all cut let the children choose which fruits they would like to put onto their skewers, threading pieces of fruit until it is full.

Healthy Pizza

Pizza doesn’t have to be fatty and can include many of the food groups and be enjoyed as part of a balanced diet and healthy eating

Ingredients –

• 100grams strong wholewheat flour
• I sachet of dried yeast
• 125ml warm water
• Cherry Tomatoes
• Chopped tomatoes
• Sweetcorn
• Courgettes
• Olives
• Grated cheese

Recipe –

• Place the ingredients out in front of the children and ask them what they think they are making. Talk about why pizza’s can be included in healthy eating. Mix the flour, yeast and water until it comes together to form a dough, kneed for a minute and then split into smaller pieces for the children to make individual bases.
• Uses the chopped tomoatoes to make the sauce for the base, allow the children to add their own
• Encourage the children to chop the cherry tomoatoes and olives in half and to cut the courgettes into diced pieces, offer help to those who need it.
• Allow the children to choose their own toppings, remind them they only need a small amount of cheese and encourage them to try new things.
• Once finished bake in the oven for 10-12mins

Mango Salsa

Ingedients – This makes a delicious snack of accompaniment

• 300 grams Mango
• 1-2 large Red peppers
• Spring onions

Recipe –

• Talk about when you might eat this and what makes it a healthy eating choice
• Encourage the children to prepare the food by chopping them into small pieces
• Mix together and enjoy