The Early Years Foundation Government Nutrition Guidelines
- Apr 25
- 3 min read
Updated: 43 minutes ago
In September 2025, the UK Government introduced the new food standards for children aged 1-5. They ensure that children get a nutritious start to life that supports their development. These guidelines provide a vital framework for nurseries and early year settings to guide them in offering food which is balanced and age appropriate.
Why is this development important?
The WHO states that eating habits are formed early in life and can stick until adulthood. Therefore, creating a balanced start to life through food provided in early year settings will help create habits that can continue into adulthood and have long term positive impacts on health.
Children are rapidly growing and developing, the guidelines introduced in September 2025 ensures that the food offered gives children energy and a variety of nutrients essential to their development.
There are food inequalities all over the UK with many families unable to access healthy foods in their daily lives. Having a standard which all early year settings need to meet is especially important for those children who do not have access to these foods at home.
What are the guidelines?
Meals should include a variety of the main food groups; Fruit and vegetables, Carbohydrates, Dairy/Alternatives and proteins.
1. Fruit and Vegetables:
1 Portion of fruit/veg as part of each main meal and as part of snacks.
A variety of fruit and veg should be offered across the week.
Limit baked beans to once a week if being counted as a vegetable.
Avoid dried fruit as a snack and avoid tinned fruit in syrup (in juice is a better option).
Avoid products with added salt and sugar (for example, tinned veg in salted water).
2. Starchy Carbohydrates:
These are foods such as bread, potatoes, pasta, noodles, rice, grains and breakfast cereals.
Provide a starchy food as part of each meal.
A plain starchy food such as a cracker or rice cake should be offered as at least part of 1 snack a day.
3 different types of starchy food (wholegrain and white) should be offered across meals and snacks.
Wholegrain should be offered at least for 1 breakfast, lunch and tea each week.
Choose options with lower sugar and salt.
Avoid cereals which are higher in sugars, flavoured dried rice/noodles.
3. Dairy/Fortified Dairy Alternatives:
3 portions of dairy foods a day.
Dairy alternatives must be fortified with calcium.
Full fat options for children under the age of 2.
Avoid sweetened yoghurts and choose plain options.
4. Proteins:
Beans, pulses, nuts, meat, fish, poultry, eggs.
A portion of protein should be part of lunch and tea.
A variety of protein sources should be offered across the week.
At least 1 lunch and 1 tea should have a plant-based meat alternative.
Vegetarian and vegan children should have a variety of protein sources.
Oily fish should be offered maximum of 2 times a week but at least once every 3 weeks.
Processed meat, fish and meat alternatives should be limited to once a week due to high saturated fat and salt content.
Drinks:
Water should be available throughout the day.
Provide only water and plain milk.
Whole milk for under 2s.
Semi-skimmed milk can be offered for over 2.
Unsweetened dairy alternatives can be offered for children over 1.
Avoid drinks with sugar – fruit juices, squash and smoothies.
What to Avoid?
Foods high in saturated fat, salt and sugars – cakes, chocolate, pastries, crisps.
Artificial sweeteners as they can lead to a preference for sweet foods.
Limit foods that have been fried to a maximum of once a week.
Portion Sizes:
There are no portion size guidelines as every child is different and eats different amounts throughout the day, however portions should be appropriate for the child’s body size and appetite. The usual portion size of a toddler is the size of their clenched fist, about half a piece of fruit.
Lunch and tea should consist of 2 dishes, a main and an additional dish such as a starter, side or dessert.
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