Nutrition in the Early Years

Description

Give yourself some food for thought with this interesting course that introduces students to the importance of good, healthy nutrition within any early years learning environment or setting. A healthy diet can help every child to get off to a good start, from a filling breakfast in the morning to healthy, balanced snacks during breaktimes at school. As an early years practitioner, it’s up to you to be a good role model, and to encourage the children in your care to make better choices, to ensure long life, good health, and maximum achievement of potential.
Healthy Eating = Healthy Kids
By signing up to this course, you will learn about what food groups make up a healthy, balanced diet and will also explore portion sizes and their importance. While many families enjoy a well-balanced, nutritious diet, others don’t, and while you can’t control what happens outside of your setting, you can encourage eating well while they are in your care. You will also explore some of the government-backed healthy eating initiatives that are enforced today, which can help every child enjoy a healthy start.
KEY LEARNING POINTS
This course will be of interest to childcare practitioners in a variety of learning environments. It may also benefit anyone else who may be involved in the nutrition of children, including parents!
Understand the various components of a healthy diet, and what foods can include these elements, including proteins, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals.
Get to grips with what makes a well-balanced meal, and what food groups should be included.
Learn how to portion size correctly, and understand the importance of portion control.
Take a look at some of the common food allergies, dietary preferences and intolerances, and recognise some of the foods that can be ‘danger foods’.
Understand that children will learn from what they see you do, which is why being a good role model is essential if you want to implement positive eating habits.
Gain insight into some of the common food phobias that some children can experience, and learn how to deal with these issues.
Learn how to address childhood obesity by encouraging children to help prepare and cook healthy meals, as well as encouraging them to try new things.
ADVANTAGES OF THIS COURSE
Study online at a time that is convenient to you. There’s no need to worry about trying to adhere to deadlines – it’s accessible for as long as you need, at any time of the day or night.
Work through the course alongside other courses, or around existing home and work commitments.
Improve your knowledge of healthy eating and make positive changes in your own life as well as in others.
Make use of presentations, videos and extended reading to help you learn everything you need to know about healthy nutrition.
Downloadable activity sheets full of tasks that you can read and complete to help you reflect upon your new-found knowledge, without worrying about it being part of the final assessment.
Learn more with extra, independent reading and activities. Discover Change4Life, the Healthy Start Initiative, and healthy lifestyle advice from the NHS.
Learn about some of the voluntary guidelines that can be introduced into the workplace, as well as new food standards that were introduced in Jan 2015 in schools and mandatory food standards for schools, cooks and caterers.
Take the simple 10-question multiple choice assessment to complete the course.
Technical support is available, should you need it at any point.
Both early years practitioners and parents alike can benefit from learning about good nutrition in the early years. Complete this course and ensure that the children in your care get off to the best possible nutritional start.
Note: Certificates must be applied within 3 months of course completion.