Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
1274. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Health the steps he is taking to address excessive consumption of unhealthy foods in preschool settings particularly in relation to celebrations (details supplied); if guidance has been issued to preschools on the consumption of unhealthy foods; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42306/21]
View answerMy Department is finalising Nutrition Standards for Early Learning and Care Services developed in consultation with the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth. The Standards will be available in early October.
While these Nutrition Standards recognise that there are instances where the food provided varies due to the location or the nature of the occasion such as field trips and birthday celebrations, they recommend that food provided on these days still needs to comply with the Standards and suggest non-food treats to mark these occasions.
In a large service a birthday may be celebrated every couple of days. If children fill up on cakes and treat foods they will have little room left for the nutritious food that they need. It is important to celebrate and mark birthdays and the Standards provide advice on dealing with them. They recommend marking the occasion with fun games and activities rather than foods, and if a parent insists that a cake is sent to the Service they suggest parents are asked to keep it small, keep servings for children to bite size amounts and send leftovers home with the parent. If a number of birthdays fall on the one week, the Standards suggest consider marking them together at one celebration.
