Healthy Eating drive for the under fives
NEWS RELEASE
17 June 2005
Healthy Eating drive for the under fives
Annabel Karmel, the author of a range of highly successful cookery books for parents of pre-school age children, will today call for the need to improve nutrition for under 5s. She will be speaking at the Pre-school Learning Alliance conference in support of their campaign "Feeding Young Imaginations". The campaign is aimed at providing materials and training for pre-school leaders and parents on nutrition and healthy eating for the under fives.
Annabel Karmel, said
"I am delighted to join the Pre-school Learning Alliance's campaign to improve the quality of food and nutrition for the under fives. There has been, rightly, a major focus on the need to improve school food. However, it is before school age that children's food preferences and habits are established. A well-stocked larder is the best form of preventive medicine. What we feed our children today will determine their future tomorrow. Investing time and resources in these early years will have a major impact on the nation's future health and development. The time is right to focus on enhancing the quality of food for the under fives and on supporting parents and pre-school leaders in making this happen."
Steve Alexander, Chief Executive, Pre-school Learning Alliance, added,
"We are delighted that Annabel is supporting our campaign. As a result of Feeding Young Imaginations, parents will have more confidence that their children will be getting healthy meals while at pre-school and nursery, and with Annabel's help will also have more confidence in producing well balanced meals at home."
The campaign will consist of the following elements in the coming year:
- New guidance for pre-schools on menus with the help of Annabel Karmel and British Nutrition Foundation
- New recipes and recipe cards for pre-school leaders and parents from Annabel Karmel
- Training courses in every region of the country on healthy eating for the under fives for pre-school leaders
- Information and guidance for pre-school leaders and parents available in printed form and at the charity's website — www.pre-school.org.uk/food
ENDS
For further information please contact:
Andrew Fletcher
Pre-school Learning Alliance
T: 020 7278 9037
Out of hours press calls: 07979 531130
E: Andrew Fletcher
Notes for Editors:
- Supporting Choice in Childcare, the Pre-school Learning Alliance's annual national conference takes place today at the Novotel, Hammersmith, London, starting at 10.00am.
- The Pre-school Learning Alliance links 15,000 pre-schools and 500,000 young children and their families in England. Established in 1961 and registered as an educational charity, the Alliance is the national dimension of the pre-school movement. The charity is involved in more Sure Start projects than any other organisation and operates a number of Neighbourhood Nurseries. For information about the Pre-school Learning Alliance, visit our website: www.pre-school.org.uk.
- Feeding Young Imaginations is designed to ensure all children get the best start in life. It highlights that getting nutrition right in the early years can have a positive impact on long-term development. In partnership with the British Nutrition Foundation, the Pre-school Learning Alliance has produced Nutritional Guidance specifically for the under fives. The guidelines give advice for parents, carers and those involved in running a nursery or playgroup to help children eat well and be healthy, offering practical tips to make healthy eating fun for children. Further information about the campaign is available from the website: www.pre-school.org.uk/food
- Supporting Choice in Childcare is part of National Sure Start Month 2005. National Sure Start Month 2005, Your Children, Your Choices, is the fourth in a series of annual events providing an opportunity for Sure Start Users and early years practitioners around the country to celebrate the achievements of the past year. The event is sponsored by the Sure Start Unit, and run by a partnership of six charities — representing a wide cross-section of early-years service users and expertise in the sector. For more information, visit www.nationalsurestartmonth.com