Nutrition for Children
To make our foods we have to ensure we have a good understanding of children's nutrition and children's diet requirements. Obesity has become a concerning subject for parents over the last few months due to the media interest it has had. Because of this, healthy eating for children is of paramount importance. Food manufacturers are now working hard to ensure their foods contribute towards a healthier children's diet.
Child nutrition is very important to us, in fact, it's the reason we exist!
We understand that children's healthy eating is a concern to parents so we have put together this information on healthy eating for children to help you make the right choices for your children whatever age they are.
Try to go for 3 small, regular, high-quality meals, plus 2 or 3 healthy snacks per day.
Nutritionists recommend that savoury treats should be fed to children a maximum of twice a week, so that they don't get into the habit of eating snacks when they are hungry but instead get used to eating 'real' foods regularly.
Gradually introduce your child to wider foods and textures, including spices and pulses from the earliest age.
Try to avoid all sources of added salt or sugar both in your own cooking and in processed foods.
The best drinks are water, milk or diluted fruit juices.
Children's diets, appetites and nutritional needs vary according to their age, size and energy levels, so giving them a balanced diet will ensure they receive the right nutrients.
Healthy eating for children requires foods split into various groups, each offering different benefits. To give you a head start, we've split the groups down for you and shown how many portions of each food you should be trying to offer your child each day.
| FOOD GROUP | WHAT | HOW MUCH |
| Food group 1 | Carbohydrates such as: potatoes, bread, rice; pasta | 4 Portions |
Food group 2
| Fruits and Vegetables such as; Apples, pears, oranges, peaches, strawberries, nectarines, broccoli, cauliflower, peas, sprouts, spinach (the list is endless!).Please note: Potatoes are not included in the fruit and vegetable portions. They are a starchy food and come under carbohydrates in Food Group 1. | 5 Portions |
| Food group 3 | Dairy and calcium-rich foods such as; Cheese, milk and eggs (eggs are a good source of Zinc) | 3 Portions |
| Food group 4 | Meat (beef and lamb) poultry (chicken), fish and other vegetarian alternatives. | 2 Portions |
| Food group 5 | Fatty and/or sugary processed foods such as: Butter, margarine, cheese, sausages, pies, burgers, puddings, biscuits, sweets, chocolate, sweetened cereals, jams and jellies. | No recommended daily portions. Can be offered only occasionally. |
We are all conscious about healthy eating for kids and this includes 5 portions of fruit and vegetables a day. Carrot and celery sticks, along with fresh fruit salads make for a fun mealtime and also count towards your child's 5-a-day. Alternatively, try one of our delicious fruit purees - One pot will offer your baby or child a portion of fruit.
Did you know?
• Wholegrains contain more minerals, vitamins and fibre than processed grains and take longer to digest, filling you up for longer.
• Figs are a superfood, rich in many nutrients.