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National Childhood Network (NCN)

Nutrition

Health & Wellbeing

Nutrition

In this section we hope to provide you with a range of resources that support and promote good nutrition.

New training for Birth to Three and Preschool on nutrition coming soon.

Healthy Snacks for 1 - 4 year Olds

New Food Pyramid for 1 - 4 year Olds

An infographic and leaflet on Lunchboxes in the light of COVID, which are the result of a collaboration between NCN and the Department of Children and Youth Affairs (DCYA).

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Infographic - English
Time_for_Lunch_infographic_Irisha
Infographic - Irish
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Download Leaflet - English PDF
Lunch_box_Irish_1
Download Leaflet - Irish PDF

Encouraging Healthy Eating

Early childhood and after school services can provide a natural supportive environment for promoting healthy eating behaviours. All staff members have an important health promoting role to play. Promoting healthy eating behaviours requires a whole team approach.

Click on the links below for more information:

Healthy Diet

The Food and Nutrition Guidelines for Pre-School services (2004) state:

“The pre-school service provides an excellent setting for promoting positive habits and attitudes to healthy eating and being active as part of a healthy lifestyle. The provision of nutritious food positively enhances not only a child’s health but also allows the child to take full advantage of the learning opportunities provided in pre-schools”.

Benefits of Healthy Eating

Healthy eating helps:
• promote optimal growth and development
• prevent early health problems such as;

  • tooth decay
  • obesity
  • constipation
  • anaemia etc.

• play a role in preventing long-term chronic health problems such as;

  • heart disease
  • diabetes
  • cancer
  • stroke

• lay a good foundation for good health throughout life