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Editor's view

Giving young children in maintained schools a free piece of fruit or veg every day for a limited period of time does not look to have changed dietary habits significantly since 2004, when the Government's scheme launched (see News, page 4).

This isn't really a surprise, as such a scheme cannot hope to bringabout a revolution by itself. There need to be longer-term and morefundamental changes in the whole of children's environment to make asubstantial difference.

Ironically, children in non-maintained nurseries, pre-schools andchildminders have not been part of the scheme, yet it is in thesesettings that much can be done and is being done from the earliest age.Many providers are offering imaginative, healthy menus, planting,growing and cooking their own food, and incorporating learning aboutnutrition into different aspects of nursery life. As yet, however, noofficial guidelines exist on healthy eating for children in PVIsettings.

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