🥕 Healthy Eating Guidance for Parents

Supporting children to develop positive food habits for life

At St Peter's we believe that healthy eating starts early. Young children need a variety of nutritious foods to help them grow, learn, and play. We work closely with families to promote good eating habits and make mealtimes enjoyable, relaxed, and positive.

🧡 Building a Balanced Diet

Preschool-aged children need foods from all the main food groups each day:

1. Fruit and Vegetables
Aim for at least five small portions a day. These can be fresh, frozen, or tinned in natural juice. Try to offer a variety of colours and textures — carrots, apples, peas, and berries are all great options.

2. Starchy Foods
Foods like bread, pasta, rice, potatoes, and cereals give children energy. Choose wholegrain or high-fibre varieties where possible.

3. Protein Foods
Include meat, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, tofu, or pulses for growth and repair. Try to offer two portions of fish a week, one of which should be oily (e.g. salmon or mackerel).

4. Dairy and Alternatives
Milk, cheese, and yogurt provide calcium for strong teeth and bones. Choose lower-sugar options and, if using alternatives (e.g. soya milk), make sure they are fortified with calcium.

5. Drinks
Water and milk are the best choices. Try to avoid sugary drinks and limit fruit juice to mealtimes only.

🍎 Encouraging Healthy Habits

• Offer regular meals and healthy snacks (e.g. fruit, breadsticks, or yogurt).

• Sit together for meals when possible — children learn by watching others.

• Avoid pressuring children to eat; gentle encouragement and patience work best.

• Make food fun! Try colourful plates, food cut into shapes, or “rainbow” fruit skewers.

• Involve children in shopping or preparing simple foods — it helps them try new things.

⚖️ Portion Sizes

Young children have small tummies, so they need small, frequent meals.
As a guide, portions should be child-sized — about the amount that fits into their own hand.

Remember: appetite can vary day to day. That’s completely normal!

🚫 Preventing Choking

Young children can easily choke, so supervision during meals is essential.
Here are some key safety tips:

• Always make sure children sit down while eating.

• Cut foods into small pieces — e.g. grapes, cherry tomatoes, and sausages should be cut lengthways and into quarters.

• Avoid hard or round foods such as whole nuts, popcorn, or raw carrot chunks.

• Encourage children to eat slowly and chew well.

• Never allow eating while running, walking, or playing.

💬 Working Together

We’re committed to supporting families in developing lifelong healthy habits.
Please let us know if your child:

• Has any food allergies, intolerances, or dietary needs

• Is a fussy eater or struggles with certain textures.

• Needs support with feeding or using cutlery

By sharing information, we can ensure consistency between home and preschool, helping every child thrive.