{"id":12765,"date":"2022-07-08T02:18:23","date_gmt":"2022-07-08T02:18:23","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.booksofall.com\/pl\/?post_type=product&p=12765"},"modified":"2022-07-08T03:10:22","modified_gmt":"2022-07-08T03:10:22","slug":"eating-well-packed-lunches-for-1-4-year-olds","status":"publish","type":"product","link":"https:\/\/www.booksofall.com\/pl\/eating-well-packed-lunches-for-1-4-year-olds\/","title":{"rendered":"Eating Well: Packed Lunches For 1-4 Year Olds"},"content":{"rendered":"

Why do we need ideas for packed <\/span>lunches?<\/span><\/h3>\n

Y<\/span>oung children may take a packed lunch to their early years setting when <\/span>they go for a half-day or full-day session, or may have them for school trips <\/span>and outings. Increasingly, younger children who are offered free sessions in <\/span>early years settings are required to bring in packed lunches. Families new to early <\/span>years settings may need extra support to provide healthy packed lunches for their <\/span>children.<\/span><\/p>\n

A packed lunch should provide the same <\/span>amount of energy and nutrients as a <\/span>main meal for children of these ages, and <\/span>should follow the key principles of eating <\/span>well for this age group.<\/span><\/p>\n

Healthy eating and physical activity <\/span>are essential for proper growth and <\/span>development in childhood. To help <\/span>children develop patterns of healthy <\/span>eating from an early age, it is important<\/span>
that the food and eating patterns to <\/span>which children are exposed \u2013 both at <\/span>home and outside the home \u2013 are those <\/span>that promote positive attitudes and <\/span>enjoyment of good food<\/span><\/p>\n

Key principles of eating well for <\/span>1-4 year olds<\/span><\/h3>\n

A good variety of <\/span>different foods<\/span> <\/strong>is <\/span>important to ensure all the <\/span>important nutrients (vitamins and <\/span>minerals) are included in the diet. <\/span>Make sure the content of packed <\/span>lunches is varied from day to day.<\/span><\/p>\n

Choose good-quality food.<\/strong> <\/span>Young children need to eat small <\/span>quantities of good food regularly. The <\/span>best foods are those that are minimally <\/span>processed and which have been made <\/span>from good-quality ingredients. Avoid <\/span>foods that are \u2018diluted\u2019 \u2013 for example, <\/span>processed meat or fish covered with <\/span>breadcrumbs, batter or other coatings <\/span>(such as sausage rolls, Scotch eggs,<\/span>
chicken nuggets or fish cakes) which <\/span>make them lower in nutrients.<\/span><\/p>\n

Young children <\/span>should eat child-sized <\/span>portions of at least <\/span>five different fruit and <\/span>vegetables a day.<\/span> <\/strong>Where <\/span>children are reluctant to eat these <\/span>foods, they should at least taste <\/span>five different ones every day <\/span>and have them served with their <\/span>meals and snacks so they become <\/span>familiar with them.<\/span><\/p>\n

Good sources of iron and <\/span>zinc<\/span> should be served at main <\/span><\/strong>meals.<\/strong> This includes meat, fish, eggs, <\/span>ground nuts and seeds, and soya <\/span>products such as tofu. See page 50 <\/span>for examples of foods that are high in <\/span>iron and zinc<\/span><\/p>\n

Limit sugar intake.<\/strong> Children do not need sugary foods<\/a> such as sweets, biscuits, cakes chocolate, soft drinks or sugar for energy. Sugary foods can damage teeth and provide calories but few nutrients. Starchy foods \u2013 such as potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and yam \u2013 are better sources of energy, as they contain other important nutrients too. Use fruit to sweeten yoghurts and desserts.<\/p>\n

A good source of calcium<\/a>, riboflavin and iodine<\/span><\/strong> should be <\/span>served every day. Whole or semi-skimmed cows\u2019 milk, cheeses, and unsweetened <\/span>yoghurt and fromage frais are good sources of these nutrients. For children <\/span>who do not have dairy products, an unsweetened fortified milk substitute such <\/span>as soya milk or unsweetened fortified soya yoghurt can provide these nutrients. <\/span>For details of other dairy substitutes for children, see pages 27 and 35. For more <\/span>examples of foods rich in these nutrients, see page 49.<\/span><\/p>\n

Make sure food for 1-4 <\/span><\/strong>year olds is low in salt<\/a><\/strong>. <\/span>Avoid foods designed for adults, <\/span>take-aways and foods that are <\/span>high in salt such as processed <\/span>meat, salty snacks and biscuits, <\/span>sauces and ready-prepared meals<\/span><\/p>\n

Children can drink water.<\/strong> <\/span>Children should be encouraged to <\/span>drink tap water if they are thirsty, <\/span>and fresh drinking water should be <\/span>available at all times. Water quenches <\/span>thirst, does not spoil the appetite, <\/span>and does not damage teeth.<\/span><\/p>\n

What to avoid?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n