Eat Well training and award
We know that early years settings, childminders and schools have a big role to play in helping children to get the best start in life.
Redcar & Cleveland and Middlesbrough Councils have launched the Eat Well award.
The award supersedes Food4Health and aims to support schools, early years settings and childminders to embed a whole settings approach to food and health, and recognise their hard work in supporting children to get off to the best start.
About the Eat Well training
The training gives staff the knowledge and skills they need to provide healthy food, as well as making sure children develop positive habits which can last a lifetime.
Topics included are healthy eating habits, eating solid food, and nutritious food for children in early years settings, as well as promoting breastfeeding in early years settings.
Once staff have completed the training and put changes in place, the setting is eligible to apply for the Eat Well award.
Settings which achieve the award:
- provide meals which meet all of the government guidelines for nutritional food for children
- teach children about the importance of healthy eating
- support children to make healthy choices
- support and promote breastfeeding
- contribute to the changes needed across South Tees to promote healthy weight and prevent obesity
Who can take part?
The award is available to all schools, early years settings and childminders in Redcar and Cleveland and Middlesbrough
The Eat Well training can be completed online via the Public Health Learning Hub and is based on a number of criteria which address the approach to food across the whole setting from food provision to education and there are a number of free courses for staff to complete.
As well as lots of information and advice on the Public Health Learning Hub there is local support for the settings engaging in the programme and we hope to launch a support forum as the programme grows.
We recommend that managers complete the training first, to ensure they have a thorough understanding of the Eat Well award and training. Following this, all staff in their setting will also be able to complete the training.
Where can I get more information?
Contact Details
For more information contact the Environmental Health (Commercial) Team at
Email: food.team@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk
Telephone number: 01287 612421
Eating a balanced diet
Eating a healthy, balanced diet is an important part of maintaining good health and can help you feel your best.
This means eating a wide variety of foods in the right proportions and consuming the right amount of food and drink to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight.
The Eatwell Guide shows that to have a healthy, balanced diet, people should try to:
- eat at least 5 portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables every day (see 5 A Day)
- base meals on higher fibre starchy foods like potatoes, bread, rice or pasta
- have some dairy or dairy alternatives (such as soya drinks)
- eat some beans, pulses, fish, eggs, meat and other protein
- choose unsaturated oils and spreads, and eat them in small amounts
- drink plenty of fluids (at least 6 to 8 glasses a day)
People with special dietary needs or a medical condition should ask their doctor or a registered dietitian for advice.
For more information follow the link Eat well - NHS (www.nhs.uk)