Features

A Unique Child: Nutrition - Role up!

How important are practitioners as role models and what positive messages should they pass on at mealtimes? Nicole Weinstein finds out.

Children are influenced by the foods that their parents eat. If they are given a variety of healthy foods and their parents munch on raw carrot or snack on strawberries then they are more likely to follow suit. The same applies to children whose parents have a diet of Coca-Cola, chips and ready-made meals. Early years settings, however, are in a unique position to improve the lifelong health of the children in their care by encouraging them to eat good food, regardless of what may be on the menu at home. The role of the practitioner is central to the child's eating experience at nursery, because they will act as a role model in the same way as a parent.

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