Following the debate on the need for clearer practical guidelines and the nutritional quality of food provided by early years settings, Busy Bees, the UK’s largest childcare provider, commissioned the School Food Trust to carry out an analysis on their menus.

The School Food Trust nutritionists looked at the types, amount and frequency of food and drink that Busy Bees provide to children across the day, measuring them against existing guidelines that were summarised by the national Advisory Panel on Food and Nutrition in the Early Years in March 2010.

The charity also carried out nutritional analysis on all of the standardised recipes comparing the overall nutrient content of the two menus with the Department of Health’s recommended nutritional requirements for children aged 1-5. This also included looking at portion sizes, menu planning and nutritional information on manufactured products. Breakfasts, snacks, lunches and teas on each of the menus were individually analysed for the recommended  levels of energy, fat, saturated fat, carbohydrate, added sugar, protein, iron, zinc, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C and sodium.

Marg Randles, Operations Director for Busy Bees said: “We recognise the importance of establishing healthy eating habits in the years before school to ensure good eating patterns through to adulthood. Children under five are growing at a rapid rate, so it is important they receive all the nutrients they need to develop into strong, healthy young adults.

Although our menus have always been very popular with our parents and children we felt it was important to undergo the analysis to assure ourselves that the food we provide consistently meets the nutritional requirements for our  children.   The process has allowed us to increase our knowledge, skills and confidence in menu planning.  We have already implemented the changes recommended so that we can fully meet the guidance requirements.

School Food Trust Nutritionist Patricia Mucavele said: "Busy Bees have worked hard to improve their menus and recipes and we were pleased to support them on this work. 

“Helping children to eat well from an early age is vital for their long-term health, which is why it’s so important that childcare providers are committed to offering balanced menus, encouraging children to try lots of different foods and to make food in childcare a fun and social experience.”