Spending more time together as a family has been one of the positives from Covid-19 restrictions, understandably parents and guardians are finding it difficult to manage screen-time, treat consumption and physical activity at home.
The START campaign from the HSE, safefood and Healthy Ireland is encouraging parents to increased family time as an opportunity to begin a new healthy habit and start their children on the way to healthier life. The START campaign is about supporting parents to introduce small changes into family life that can make a big difference.
Sarah O’Brien, HSE National Lead, Healthy Eating and Active Living Programme said; “Taking small steps to build changes into how we spend time with our children, big wins can start with small changes and the health benefits add up over time.”
START tips
- Introduce family cooking time and prepare meals together
- Getting out to play with children (rain coats on if necessary) can pave the way for spending less time on the couch in front of a TV or tablet screen
Some useful START resources for parents can be found at www.makeastart.ie. These include recipes and games ideas, advice and guidance from HSE Psychologists, Dr Peadar Maxwell and Dr Conor Owens.
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Healthy eating guidelines for 1-4 year olds
The early stage in a child’s life is well recognised as a critical phase when dietary habits are formed. With so many confusing messages and information about food it can be difficult to know what to feed children.
With this in mind, new guidelines have been developed to include a food pyramid which will help people understand what children should be eating, what portion sizes look like and when treats should be given.
Margaret O’Neill, dietitian and HSE nutrition lead was part of a team of national nutrition experts in Ireland involved in developing the new guidelines. “This is the first time we have had food based dietary guidelines in Ireland for this age group. The food we provide for our children during early life is key to their lifelong health and helps them grow, play and learn.”
Some important facts include:
- Three small meals daily
- Two to three healthy snacks in the day, should be nutritious to help them grow and develop
- Children grow at such a rapid rate during the first five years – A toddler’s height doubles from birth to three years and body weight increases four times by the age of three.
- Vitamin D is needed for healthy bones and teeth and young children living in Ireland don’t get enough sun in the winter months.
The new guidelines are very practical and include information about healthy meals and snacks, portion sizes and the importance of happy healthy mealtimes for all the family. Carers and health professionals will find advice from HSE experts on MyChild.ie/nutrition parents.
Printed copies of the Healthy eating guidelines 1-4 years booklet is available in to order free of charge on www.healthpromotion.ie
