There are far more 'villains' than 'heroes' on the supermarket shelves, and children are not mature enough to decide for themselves that eating healthy food is more important than getting the packet featuring their favourite characters. Indeed, young children are convinced that food in jazzed-up containers tastes better than that in a plain wrapper. If public opinion is shown to be firmly against such tactics, perhaps the manufacturers will take heed. Bratz biscuit, anyone?
Time is running out for you to shine as a hero of nursery nutrition, as the deadline looms for the Nursery Food Awards 2007, run by Organix and the Soil Association in partnership with Nursery World and Hobart. If you provide fresh, healthy and enjoyable meals to pre-school children, if you source local or organic food, and if you can demonstrate how you incorporate learning about food and health into the nursery day, you could win an award and £1,000 of kitchen equipment.
Fill in the application form by 7 September at www.organix.com/nurseryfoodawards. Winning nurseries will be announced in November.