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IE/Edge
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Click 'Print' and you have saved your webpage to a PDF file.
Healthy Eating
We understand the importance of providing nutritious meals and snacks to support their growth and development. In this guide, you will find valuable information and practical tips to help your child maintain good health. Let's dive in!
Be a Good Role Model
- Involve your children in food preparation and enjoy meals together as a family.
- Encourage regular physical activity and find activities that the whole family can enjoy.
- Listen to your child's hunger cues and avoid forcing them to eat.
- Incorporate nutritious meals, drinks, and snacks into their diet, aiming for a variety of foods.
- Limit screen time and ensure they get enough sleep.
Food Scanner App 
Just scan the barcodes of your family's favourite foods, swipe to see the healthier options available, and make a swap next time you shop!
Food Switch App
Foods can be surprisingly high in salt, fat, saturated fats (saturates) and sugars, but many people struggle to understand nutrition labels on food packaging. FoodSwitch UK is a revolutionary, award-winning, free smartphone app that helps you make healthier food choices.
Action on Salt and Action on Sugar, in collaboration with The George Institute for Global Health (TGI), have brought to you a free and easy-to-use app to help you find out what’s in the food you’re eating, so you can make simple switches to healthier options.
Fruit & Vegetables
- Engage your child in the process of choosing and exploring different fruits and vegetables.
- Make it a fun challenge to try new types of food and include them in various forms.
- Encourage your child to eat a rainbow of fruits and vegetables for a diverse range of nutrients.
Cooking
- Visit our recipe section for fast and healthy meal ideas that the whole family can enjoy.
- Get the whole family involved in cooking by assigning different tasks.
- Cook in bulk to have homemade ready meals available for quick and healthy dinners.
Sugar Intake
- Limit the consumption of sugary drinks and snacks, including pure fruit juice.
- Check food labels for hidden sugars and aim to stay within the recommended daily limits.
- Replace sugary treats with fresh fruit and encourage your child to try new fruits.
Sheffield is sweet enough
Find out how much sugar is hiding in the foods we eat and how to make healthier food choices for your family.
Food Shopping
- Whenever possible, involve your children in grocery shopping to spark their interest in healthy foods.
- Explore different products together and let them have a say in what your family buys.
- Consider frozen fruits and vegetables as a cost-effective and nutritious alternative.
Packed Lunches
- Ensure your child's lunchbox contains a balanced meal from the five food groups.
- Include starchy foods, protein foods, a dairy item, vegetables, and a portion of fruit.
- Opt for finger foods like chopped raw veggies with dips or wholemeal crackers with cheese.
Checking Weight and BMI
- "How much should my child weigh?" is a common question for parents. Our children are weighed regularly as babies, but as children grow and develop at different rates it's not always easy to tell if they are a healthy weight.
- For children and young people aged 2 to 18, you can check their weight by working out their body mass index (BMI) using NHS BMI calculator.
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Regular height and weight checks are conducted at school as part of the National Child Measurement Programme.
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Seek professional advice if you have concerns about your child's weight, whether underweight or overweight.
Local Support
Eat Smart Sheffield 
We hope you will join us on our mission to help give children, their families and the wider community the confidence, skills and knowledge they need to cook, grow and enjoy good quality affordable food.
Ultimately, we want to encourage and support Sheffield to ‘eat smart’!
Eating Well Barnsley
The health benefits of enjoying a healthy and balanced diet, and maintaining a healthy weight include:
- More energy to do the things you love
- Improved mood
- Improved heart and joint health
- Longer life lived in better health
Additional Support
If you need further help and support, consult your health visitor or GP.
NHS Better Health - NHS resource with recipes, support, activites and food facts (Previously called Change4life)
Check if you are eligible for Healthy Start Food Vouchers, which provide assistance in buying healthy food and milk.
