The Early Years Nutrition guidance has been updated for settings, starting now (September 2025). It is now also embedded into the Early Years Foundation Stage or EYFS which nurseries should be following. 

It is pleasing to see such changes and recognition for the need for nutritious food in the early years. This blog will give you a summary of the changes and what you can do as a parent. 

Why the change matters to parents

Nutrition has been placed into the EYFS which means childcare providers must have regard to the guidance and follow it unless they have compelling good reasons not to. This is good news in ensuring consistency and transparency in what the settings serve.

What the new guidance covers (from birth to 5 years)

• 0–12 months – It talks about supporting breastfeeding, formula handling, responsive feeding, weaning stages, and milk transition.
  
• 1–5 years – It follows the “Healthy Plate” approach using 4 food groups, appropriate portion sizes, which aligns with the school food standards.

• It gives a provide, limit and avoid framework (1- 5 years) for all the different food groups. In summary: 

Provide (Offer daily / regularly)

• Fruit and vegetables – 1 portion with every meal and some snacks, include variety.
  
• Starchy foods – at least 3 different types of starchy food and a variety of wholegrain and white starchy foods across breakfasts, snacks, lunch and tea each week. 
• 1 Protein-rich food should be included for lunch and tea e.g beans, lentils, fish, eggs, meat or poultry. At least 1 lunch and 1 tea for children each week should use beans, lentils, pulses or a meat alternative as the protein source.
  
• Dairy and alternatives provide 3 portions of milk and unsweetened dairy foods each day (which includes those provided at home) such as milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified plant-based alternatives.
  
• Water and plain milk as main drinks.
  

Limit (Offer in small amounts / less often)

• Only offer low sugar and salt breakfast cereals
• Dried fruits- not as snacks but only as part of a meal.
• Limit fried foods like chips, fried rice to once a week
• Processed meats  e.g., sausages, bacon, fish fingers to no more than once a week
  

Avoid completely

• Avoid cereals labelled high in sugar e.g sugar-coated or chocolate-flavoured cereals. 
• No sweetened yoghurts or fromage frais (including non-dairy alternatives). Choose plain unsweetened ones instead.
• Avoid artificial sweeteners
• Sugary drinks e.g fruit juices, squash and smoothies
• Foods high in salt, sugar and saturated fats – cakes, sweet and savoury pastries, crisps, biscuits, salty snacks, chocolate and other confectionery.
  

See table 2 for full details

Key updates settings should follow

• Settings should follow the nutrition guidance above

• Providers must develop and follow weekly balanced menus, understand portion size requirements for different ages, and rotate meals. They should have new menus at least twice a year and ideally 3 – 4 times a year. These should include seasonal produce where possible. 

• Menus should be changed to a main dish, as well as a starter, side or second dish. The starter, side or second dish are optionals. Examples of these can be found in the guidance as well as some recipes. This is to move away from the emphasis of main meals and puddings. It also allows more variety which is what we need to see. Below are just some examples of what they could contain.

• More focus on food safety, allergies, inclusivity of different diets, and communicating meal routines with parents.
  
  

What you can do as a parent

• There should be clear communication about the menus, ingredients and options. You can also ask to see your child’s setting’s food and nutrition policy.
  
• Share details around allergies, cultural preferences, and your child’s eating patterns or weaning stage so they can take these into account.
  
• If they are not adhering to the guidance then you can arrange an informal meeting with the nursery manager to raise the issue.
  

Conclusion

The update is very welcome by nutritionists as it is so important in the early years. The guidance must be followed unless there is a good reason not to. Parents can expect more transparency and consistency and play a key role in supporting nutritional standards through collaboration with settings.

If you are a nursery or know of a nursery that could do with some support in making changes or reviewing menus. I offer support to review menus or devise new menus to meet the guidance. Please email me for further information. nutrition2nourishflourish@gmail.com