Breakfast, which literally translates as ‘breaking the fast’, is the first meal of the day and an opportunity to nourish and refuel our bodies after a night’s sleep.
Research shows that eating breakfast has positive effects on children’s concentration, supporting their morning learning, as well providing energy until their next snack or mealtime. As such, it is important that your early years setting views breakfast as equally important as other meals and snacks. Breakfast should provide about 20% of a child’s daily energy and nutrient requirements, making a significant contribution to their daily intake. If children don’t get the opportunity to eat breakfast at home, they should, wherever possible, be offered breakfast at your setting.
Startwell Guidance
Our Startwell Menu Guidelines are based on the latest Department for Education EYFS Nutrition Guidance and have been tailored to meet the needs of children in Birmingham. All settings working towards their Startwell Award must follow these guidelines:
Provide at least 1 Portion of Fruit and Vegetables
Offering fruit and/or vegetables at every eating occasion including at breakfast time is important in enabling children to eat their 5 a day. Fruits and vegetables contain vitamins, minerals and fibre and are known as protective foods.
Fruit and vegetables can be fresh, frozen, dried* or tinned (e.g. fruit in juice, or vegetables such as tinned tomatoes). A child’s portion is roughly equal to their handful or 40g (dried fruit is 20g).
*Dried fruit can be served as a topping for breakfast cereals but must not be served as a snack to protect children’s teeth. Whole dried fruit should not be given to children under 1 year of age and should be cut up into small pieces.
Provide a portion of Starchy Carbohydrates
Starchy carbohydrates provide energy, fibre and B vitamins. They are known as energy foods.
Provide at least 3 different types of starchy food and a variety of wholegrain and white starchy foods across breakfasts. Provide wholegrain starchy foods for at least 1 breakfast.
- Cereals – Limit sugar and salt content in breakfast cereals. Choose those with the lowest sugar and salt content which are labelled as ‘low’ (green) e.g. porridge oats, wheat bisks, shredded wheat.
- Serve with milk. Full fat or semi-skimmed milk for over 1’s (breast milk or formula milk for under 1’s). For children who avoid dairy products, unsweetened and calcium-fortified alternatives can be given as the main milk drink from 1 year of age. Alternatives include soy, almond, oat, hemp or coconut milk.
- Limit the salt content in bread and bread products. Choose those with a lower salt content which are labelled as ‘low’ (green) or ‘medium’ (amber) in salt.
- Toast – spread thinly with vegetable margarine. Avoid sugary toppings such as jam, marmalade, chocolate spread or honey.
Drinks
The only drinks that are recommended for children under 5 are plain milk and plain tap water. Tap water should be available throughout the day and offered as appropriate to children. See our Hydration and Drinks page for more information.
If you have any questions on the above please contact your Startwell consultant or the Startwell team on 0121 683 2303 or email bchc.startwell@nhs.net
