Setting the Table: Nurturing Healthy Eating in Early Years
/What is "Setting the Table"?
"Setting the Table" is the national nutrition guidance for early years childcare providers in Scotland. It provides evidence-based recommendations for food and nutrition, physical activity, and positive eating environments for children.
Why Nutrition Matters in the Early Years
"Miss Sarah, I don't like broccoli trees!" declared four-year-old Jamie, pushing his plate away with determination. A week later, after watching his friends happily munching away and participating in our "superhero foods" activities, Jamie cautiously tried a tiny floret. His surprised "It's not yucky!" had our whole lunch table cheering.
This is just one of countless food journeys witnessed daily in childcare establishments. Good nutrition in early childhood isn't just about keeping little tummies full, it's about laying the foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating habits. Scotland's "Setting the Table" guidance has been introduced to ensure everyone is providing the best possible nutritional start for your children, turning potential food battles into joyful discoveries.
Key Nutritional Principles for Young Children
Balanced and Varied Diet
Children need a balanced diet with foods from all food groups:
Fruit and vegetables
Starchy foods like bread, pasta, potatoes, and rice
Protein sources like meat, fish, eggs and beans
Dairy foods like milk, cheese, and yogurt
Regular Meals and Healthy Snacks
Young children have small stomachs but high energy needs. We need to provide:
Three regular meals per day
Two to three nutritious snacks between meals
Appropriate portion sizes for different ages
Important Nutrients
Some nutrients deserve special attention in early years:
Iron is crucial for brain development and preventing anemia. Good sources include:
Red meat
Beans and lentils
Green leafy vegetables
Iron-fortified cereals
Vitamin D helps build strong bones and teeth. Sources include:
Oily fish
Eggs
Fortified foods
Sunlight (though supplementation is often recommended)
Calcium supports bone development. Find it in:
Milk and dairy products
Fortified plant milks
Leafy greens
Creating Positive Eating Environments
"More peas please!" Three-year-old Lily carefully scoops peas onto her plate, her tongue peeking out in concentration. Across the table, Jo takes a big bite of his carrots, making appreciative "yum" sounds that have the children giggling and reaching for the vegetable platter.
These everyday moments show how much the eating environment matters. Children learn as much from how we eat together as what's on their plates:
Family Style Dining
After switching to family-style dining last year, a nursery noticed something magical happen. As one of our parents, shared: "My picky eater now asks to help serve dinner at home. She's trying foods I never thought she would!"
This magic was created:
Having adults sit and eat with children, sharing the same foods
Encouraging children to serve themselves when possible (yes, it gets messy!)
Turning mealtime into a social learning adventure full of conversation
Encouraging Food Exploration
"I touched the kiwi!" announced Max proudly, though he wasn't ready to taste it. And that's perfectly okay! Children are naturally cautious about new foods. A potential way of helping staff and children is by keeping a "trying journal" where children earn stickers for interacting with new foods in any way, touching, smelling, licking, or tasting.
Potential success indicators:
Introducing new foods gradually alongside familiar favourites
Never forcing children to eat anything
Celebrating every step of food exploration, not just empty plates
Consistent Routines
A structured approach provides children with a sense of security and predictability. They understand the sequence of events, which noticeably reduces anxiety and creates a calm atmosphere for mealtimes.
Regular mealtimes in a peaceful environment help children:
Develop healthy eating patterns that may last a lifetime
Practice important social skills like taking turns and conversation
Associate mealtimes with connection and joy, not stress
How Parents Can Support Healthy Eating at Home
"I never thought my son would eat spinach until I saw him gobble it up at collection time!" laughed David, father of a two-year-old. "What's the secret?"
The truth is, there's no magic wand (though we wish we had one for those really challenging days!). But we've gathered some tried-and-true approaches from our collective decades of experience:
Be a Role Model (Even When It's Hard!)
Research consistently demonstrates that children's eating behaviours are significantly influenced by observing the adults in their environment. As caregivers, our positive engagement with nutritious foods sends powerful nonverbal messages about healthy eating habits.
Demonstrating genuine enthusiasm when consuming fruits, vegetables, and whole foods helps normalise these choices for children. Consider implementing structured opportunities for family food exploration, such as a weekly tradition where all family members experience new foods together, fostering a supportive environment for expanding food preferences.
Of course, even the most committed role models have their moments. As one parent humorously noted during a nutrition workshop: "I was perfectly maintaining my 'vegetables are delicious' façade until my three-year-old caught me hiding broccoli under my napkin. Now we have an honesty policy and surprisingly, we're both eating more greens!"
Kitchen Helpers Wanted
Four-year-old Zara proudly told everyone: "I made the salad ALL BY MYSELF!" (With some safety supervision, of course!)
Even young children can:
Wash fruits and vegetables in a shallow bowl of water (prepare for splashing!)
Mix ingredients with their hands (messy but effective)
Arrange food on plates (abstract art meets nutrition)
Help set the table (learning counting and matching skills)
The 15-Times Rule
Research backs up what many parents discover through exhaustion: it can take 10-15 exposures before a child accepts a new food. Keep offering tiny amounts without pressure. Remember, a "taste" might just be a lick or touch at first.
Perseverance, patients will win out in the end, and remember we are all human and we all have different tastes so there maybe a few that the child really will not like.
Sweet Treats in Perspective
How we communicate about food significantly impacts children's developing relationship with eating. Nutritional education is most effective when focused on how different foods contribute to growth, energy, and wellbeing, rather than categorising foods with value-laden terms like "good" or "bad".
Research suggests that overly restrictive approaches to treats can inadvertently increase children's desire for these foods. A balanced perspective acknowledges that sweet treats can be included occasionally within an otherwise nutritious diet. This approach helps children develop moderation and healthy decision-making skills regarding food choices.
Our Commitment
As a training provider for early years settings, we recognise the vital importance of equipping practitioners with both knowledge and practical skills to implement nutritional best practices.
Our commitment to supporting the early years workforce includes:
Delivering comprehensive training on implementing "Setting the Table" guidance in diverse childcare environments
Providing evidence-based strategies for creating inclusive mealtime experiences that accommodate all children's needs
Equipping apprentices with effective communication techniques for partnering with families around nutrition
Sharing best practice examples through our professional learning communities
Through our training, we aim to build practitioner confidence in creating positive food environments where every child can develop healthy relationships with food, regardless of their individual needs or circumstances.
When Things Get Tricky
"Is it normal that my child eats everything at nursery but nothing at home?" (Yes! Very common.)
"My toddler lived on nothing but pasta for three weeks. Should I worry?" (Probably not.)
"How do I handle grandparents who keep giving sweets?" (A challenge as old as time!)
We understand that real-world food challenges don't always fit neatly into nutrition guidelines. For additional support, we recommend these valuable resources:
Health Visitors and Family Nurses - Your first point of contact for developmental concerns, including eating patterns
NHS Parent Club Scotland - Offers practical advice and recipes: parentclub.scot/nutrition
Scottish Government's "Setting the Table" resources - Complete guidelines available at gov.scot/settingthetable
First Steps Nutrition Trust - Evidence-based information: firststepsnutrition.org
Child Feeding Guide - Research-based strategies: childfeedingguide.co.uk
Local Family Support Centres - Often offer both group sessions and individual consultations
Dietetic Services - For concerns that may require professional assessment (referral through your GP)
Remember that most childhood eating challenges are temporary phases, but professional guidance is available when needed.
Establishing healthy eating habits in the early years is truly about empowering children to understand how nutritious food makes their bodies strong, energetic, and ready to learn! By working together, training providers, practitioners, and families, we can navigate the sometimes messy, often funny, and occasionally frustrating journey of early years nutrition with confidence and optimism. Through our collective efforts, we're helping children develop positive relationships with food that will nourish them throughout their lives. Together, we're not just setting the table, we're setting the foundation for lifelong wellbeing!
Accessing the full document
Read the full ‘Setting the Table’ guidance document by clicking the button below.
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