Eating Well for 5-12 Year Olds

To support

• Introducing solids, including through milk intolerance
• Healthy eating for children aged 1 - 12
• Weight gain for children who may struggle to eat enough
• Establishing eating patterns for children with eating difficulties

Healthy eating

• Know the health benefits of healthy eating
• Understand how to choose a balanced diet
• Recognise the importance of establishing regular eating patterns
• Be able to address nutritional issues e.g. constipation, and know when/where to get further help
• Be aware of strategies to use to encourage weight gain/loss
• Be aware of benefits of being a healthy weight
• Know practical steps to have healthy meals/snacks
• Be aware of the value of exercise and strategies to achieve guideline amounts
• Be aware of triggers to seek professional advice
• Be aware of reasons for poor growth/weight
• Know how to make meals and snacks more nourishing and how to adapt 5 food groups to increase energy

Evidence Base:

• Dietary Reference Values for Food Energy and Nutrients for the United Kingdom. Report on Health and Social Subjects No. 41. HMSO, London Department of Health (1991)
• Dr Helen Crawley (Caroline Walker Trust), Eating Well for under 5s in child care - Practical and nutritional guidelines 2006
• First Steps Nutrition Trust 2016, Good Food Choices and Portion Sizes for 1-4 year olds
• First Steps Nutrition Trust 2017 Eating Well: the First Year
• Good Food Choices and Portion Sizes for 1-4 year olds First Steps Nutrition Trust 2016
• NICE (Clinical Knowledge summary) Cows’ milk protein allergy in children 2015
• NICE Faltering growth guidelines (NG75) 2017
• NICE Vitamin D: supplement use in specific population groups (PH56) 2017
• Nutrition matters for the early years - Public Health Agency of Ireland
• RCPCH Position Statement: breastfeeding in the UK 2017
• Santos I.et al. Late preterm birth is a risk factor for growth faltering in early childhood: a cohort study, BMC paediatrics (2009) 9;71:1-8
• Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) 2011 Energy Requirements