Over 2000 staff and children across the Tops Day Nurseries family have been celebrating Healthy Eating Week this week by taking part in a number of exciting activities!
Research confirms that healthy eating habits in the years before school are very important because they influence growth, development and academic achievement in later life. Good nutrition is important for children aged under 5 to ensure that they get the right amount of energy (calories) and nutrients needed while they are growing rapidly, but not too much energy which may lead to them becoming overweight or obese.
Encouraging children to eat a wide variety of foods and develop good dietary habits to take with them into later childhood and beyond is a core part of their understanding of healthy living.
Some of the nurseries held Tops Cooking School sessions throughout the week, making healthy treats such as fruit salad, homemade pizzas and fruit kebabs.
Pre-school children at Tops Corfe Mullen made healthy eating plates, using their knowledge of what is healthy and unhealthy to design a yummy lunch. The investigator children used different fruits and vegetables as painting utensils.
Healthy Eating Week has also sparked lots of conversations about the colour, texture and tastes of different fruit. Tops Newport created a farm using fruit for the children to taste, whilst Tops Poole had a week full of new fruity experience when trying new fruits and snacks, made into quirky designs by the talented staff… pepper car anyone?
Tops Bournemouth and Tops Gillingham have been making the most out of Healthy Eating Week’s glorious weather, by planting fruit and vegetables in their gardens for the children to grow. Children helped to plant strawberries, potatoes and more, as well as watering and caring for the plants, and are very much looking forward to eating them!
You can see more photos of Healthy Eating Week by visiting the nurseries Facebook page.
