Pre-School Dinners: You're never too young to eat healthily

The researchers talked to 1,773 parents and 487 nursery workers and found huge variations in the food offered, the way it is cooked and the amount spent by each nursery. Many providers were feeding children a poor diet. What I hadn't realised, though, is that there is no regulation of nursery food. There are no rules and no guidelines.

The research found that some nurseries provide food that is not allowed or is strictly limited in primary schools – sweets, crisps, cakes and pre-produced burgers, for example. Others give children foods containing additives banned from products targeted at under-threes. My children's nursery used to make

cakes from packet mixes, which usually contain hydrogenated vegetable oils: these have no known nutritional benefit, can raise blood cholesterol levels and may be even worse than eating saturated fats. The survey found other nurseries doing the same. Some were serving chicken nuggets and hash browns. These are excluded from school menus and are not recommended for children under five.

The amount spent each day also varied – from 50p or less to over 2. Many children in nursery provision spend up to 10 hours per day on site – probably eating two main meals and at least one snack during that time.

There are rules for nutrition and food in state-run nurseries – about 12 per cent of places. But there are no rules for privately-run pre-school facilities, apart from general advice that fresh drinking water must be available and food and drink should be "properly prepared, nutritious and comply with dietary and religious requirements" and "meals, snacks and drinks…must be healthy, balanced and nutritious".

This advice seems scandalously lightweight when compared to the attention that school meals are getting.

The Soil Association report says that all nurseries – whether state-run or privately operated – should have a food policy, should have menus reviewed by a qualified nutritionist and should try and use local, seasonal and organic food.

It seems odd that no-one apart from the report's authors is making a fuss about the standard of nursery food. OFSTED simply include a general comment about food in an inspection. No-one has set out what knowledge and qualifications are required of nursery staff dealing with meals. There is no body or department within government responsible for the food in privately-run nurseries. Yet the standards are so loose that they allow some profit-making organisations to spend less than 50p per day on food for children at a key stage of their growth and development. Many nurseries do endeavour to provide good food, and it appears that standards and awareness are improving.

Sarah Fawcett, of Roseville Day Nursery in Harrogate, says that all food is home-cooked on site and the policy is to offer varied, balanced meals. She said: "I wouldn't eat value baked beans and cheap burgers, so why would I feed them to the children?"

Parents are also pleased with the food. "They pay a lot of money and some of the children are here for five days a week. I feel I should make sure they eat well".

Carole Hood who manages one of the Kindercare nurseries says that their food policy focuses on freshly made, fresh products and balanced meals. There are outside areas for growing vegetables. Carole has initiated a number of changes, including more variety and reducing the number of stodgy, sponge-based puddings. But there has been no support or input from any outside body.

I hope that it is only a minority of nurseries who choose to provide sub-standard diets. At the nursery my children attended they were involved in cooking and baking and grew their own fruit and vegetables. When mum and dad are at work they should be able to trust their nursery to put together a decent meal.

Louise McManus is a Family Eating Advisor and writer. Louise.mcmanus@ yahoo.co.uk