Positive Relationships: Working Mum - Sweet and sour

I wondered whether a practitioner had magical powers when I collected DD2 (Dear Daughter 2) from nursery yesterday - children were all gathered around cross-legged and she had their rapt attention. Then I realised the focus was actually on the chocolate bourbon biscuits they were devouring.

It was once mentioned that the setting was a 'healthy eating nursery' and I struggled not to laugh. I'm no expert in nutrition but, sadly, I believe the staff have even less of an idea of what constitutes healthy food.

When DD1 (Dear Daughter 1) was cared for by a childminder I provided all her meals. While it was an extra task and I had to be organised, I welcomed the ability to control what foods she ate despite being at work five days a week. Handing over dietary control to the nursery when she was two-and-a-half was difficult.

Outside caterers provide the children's main meal and parents are emailed the week's menu, which is helpful. To my untrained eye - now that the Friday chips have been removed - it looks tasty and well balanced with dishes such as roast turkey and paella followed by rice pudding and fruit crumble. I like that my children are trying dishes that they would not necessarily eat at home. It's the food that the nursery prepares itself that concerns me.

CORDIAL AND BISCUITS

When DD1 started at the setting I asked about the breakfast cereals and was surprised to see that the majority of them were sugar coated or chocolate. I raised this with them and was told that it's what parents had requested.

To their credit, they bought in Weetabix and Shredded Wheat for my daughter and that's what she ate throughout her time there and now my youngest does too. When DD1 was older she asked why she 'wasn't allowed' the other cereals and enquired what brown Rice Krispies were. I felt mean.

DD2 started at the setting when she was a year old and I continued my killjoy stance and requested that she not be given rusks (I didn't know they still existed!), cordial and biscuits. Now after a year there I note the biscuit rule has lapsed but when all the other children are being given sugary treats, I feel bad to deny her. I just wish they weren't provided at all.

I don't know if it's a coincidence but the afternoon tea was thankfully overhauled soon after I enquired what the noodles were that my daughter had commented on - packaged ones laden with salt. I was shocked at the staff ignorance. Now they enjoy pitta bread and dips, cheese and ham toasties and there's also plenty of fruit.

PARTY BAGS

Obviously, not all parents are as particular as me when it comes to what their children eat. Party bags can be a real eye-opener - DD2 came home with one at 14 months old that contained a packet of prawn cocktail crisps, carton of Ribena (full sugar) and a variety of sweets. I admit I put it in the bin when she went to bed.

One of my difficulties when addressing food issues with the staff is that I feel like I'm also criticising the way they eat. I get the impression sugary cereals and biscuits are routine for them whereas I'd prefer them to be a rare treat. In my opinion collecting a chocolate-smeared toddler shouldn't be the norm.

NURSERY ADVICE: IN THE BALANCE

Even if outside caterers provide nutritious lunches, early years providers need to ensure that any breakfasts, snacks and teas prepared within the settings are nutritious and, most importantly, low in added sugars.

FACTS AND FIGURES

• More than one fifth (22 per cent) of four- to five-year-olds are obese or overweight, according to the National Child Measurement Programme (www.noo.org.uk/NOO_about_obesity/child_obesity).
• Children’s teeth are particularly vulnerable to decay as the enamel is not as strong as that on adult teeth. The number one reason for primary-school-aged children being admitted to hospital is dental decay. In 2013-14, nearly 500 five- to nine-year-olds a week were admitted to hospital to have multiple tooth extractions (www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/news/uk_news/Health/Sugar/article1433860.ece).

ESSENTIAL POINTS
l Foods laden with added sugar have little nutritional value. To provide children with a healthy diet, be guided by the Voluntary Food and Drink Guidelines for Early Years Settings in England, which can be downloaded at www.childrensfoodtrust.org.uk/pre-school/resources/guidelines.
l Don’t serve fruit juice and dried fruits between meals because they linger on the teeth and cause decay. Instead, serve water and milk between meals and avoid all soft drinks.
l Read food labels and choose products that are low in sugar (less than 5g sugar per 100g).

NURSERY FOOD
See Nursery World’s latest Nursery Food supplement (October 2014), including ‘Sweet talk’ (ten things you need to know about sugar), ‘Bite size’ (tips and recipes for snacktime) and ‘Progress report’ (latest research into the quality of nursery food). For more information and links to all the features, visit www.nurseryworld.co.uk/1147446.

Download the pdf