ABSTRACT
Food provision in early years settings (EYS) presents an opportunity to support healthy eating amongst young children. This study aimed to record and nutritionally analyse setting lunches provided for, consumed and wasted by 3- to 4-year-old children attending EYS in Sheffield, England, including a comparison to packed lunches. Lunch choices were recorded for participating children, along with weights of foods served and any leftovers. A total of 142 setting lunches were recorded, eaten by 46 children attending four of eight recruited EYS. Lunches included vegetables (83.8%) more often than fruit (59.2%), and on average provided sufficient energy, carbohydrate, fibre, protein, vitamins A and C, calcium, iodine and zinc, but insufficient iron. Free sugars and saturated fat, but not sodium, were higher than recommended. Children left 22% of food served on their plate, and consumption of energy, carbohydrate, fibre, vitamin A, iron, iodine and zinc was lower than recommended. Food and nutrient contents were also compared to 185 packed lunches eaten by 67 children from eight settings. Setting lunches contained less food (median 288 g) than packed lunches (median 321 g, p < 0.001) and were more likely to meet guidelines for free sugars (p < 0.001), saturated fat (p < 0.001), vitamin A (p = 0.034), vitamin C (p < 0.001) and sodium (p < 0.001) but less frequently provided sufficient fibre (p = 0.025), calcium (p < 0.001), iron (p < 0.001) and zinc (p < 0.001). Setting lunches were more nutritionally balanced than packed lunches. However, to maximise EYS potential contribution to children’s diets, settings must have access to support to both provide sufficiently nutrient-dense meals and encourage children to eat them.
Maternal &Child Nutrition, Volume 22, Issue 1, January 2026. Read More