There’s a lot happening in the world of child nutrition right now, and it’s about time! From new government guidance to fresh research insights, 2025 is shaping up to be a pivotal year for improving the way we feed our youngest generation. I talk a lot about the first 1000 days of life being such an important time to establish habits and patterns of eating, so this is certainly good news for me.
Here’s a quick roundup of the most important updates and what they mean for parents, carers, and early years professionals.
New Nursery Food Guidance: EYFS Nutrition Guidelines
The Department for Education has published updated Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Nutrition Guidance, which becomes part of the Early Years statutory framework from September 2025. This means early years providers must now follow detailed recommendations on offering healthy, balanced, and nutritious meals to children aged 0–5 unless there’s a good reason not to.
📄 Read the full EYFS Nutrition Guidance
There is definitely some stricter guidance here when it comes to sugars and sweet foods such as cakes and biscuits being used, and, importantly a move away from offering sweet or sugary puddings after lunch and tea – see my blog on New Nursery Food Guidance for all the details.
New Baby Food Guidelines
The UK government has just released new baby food guidelines designed to support parents in making healthier choices when shopping for little ones. They’re also aimed at encouraging brands to cut back on added salt and sugar, while improving labelling and marketing so that it’s clearer and less confusing for families. Importantly, snack foods are being looked at too, as this area has grown rapidly with very little regulation so far. The government will be reviewing progress, with the option to take things further if changes aren’t made.
SACN Statement on Sweeteners
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN) has released a new statement on non-sugar sweeteners, highlighting that they are not recommended for young children. This aligns with growing concerns about ultra-processed foods and the need to prioritise whole, minimally processed options for kids.
You can read more about Sweeteners for young children here.
The Food Foundation: UK Meat Facts
A new report from The Food Foundation reveals that one-third of the meat children eat is processed; think sausages, nuggets, and ham. This is a concern given the links between processed meat and long-term health risks. The report calls for a shift toward more plant-based and unprocessed protein sources in children’s diets.
If you want to know what the advice is when it comes to offering little ones meat in their diet, check out my blog: Is processed meat Ok for children?
NDNS: Fibre & Vitamin D Still Falling Short
The latest data from the National Diet and Nutrition Survey (NDNS) shows that UK children are still not meeting recommended intakes for fibre and vitamin D. This is a persistent issue, and one that needs urgent attention through both education and food policy. If you’re interested in What children’s diets in the UK actually look like, check out my blog on this topic.
We really need to be encouraging children to be eating a balance from early on and reducing children’s intakes of processed foods.
Free School Meals Expansion
In a welcome move, the UK government has announced expanded access to free school meals for children in households receiving Universal Credit. This could help reduce food insecurity and improve nutrition for thousands of children across the country.
Government: Pouch Advice Added
As a result of the Panorama programme about Baby Food Pouches, the Government and the Start for Life website now includes guidance on shop-bought baby food pouches, encouraging parents to use them mindfully and not as a replacement for home-prepared meals. This is something I’ve spoken about in detail – see Can my Baby have Food Pouches and my FAQ on baby food pouches. I’m pretty sure there will be more to come on this topic in the future too, so watch this space!
Final Thoughts
With all these updates, it’s clear we’re entering a transformative moment for child nutrition in the UK and I am so excited to see the movement, even if it’s small steps for now. From nurseries to national surveys, the message is consistent: we need to do better for our kids long term health and nutrition. And with clearer guidance, better access to healthy food, and more awareness, we’re finally moving in the right direction.
I’ll be keeping a close eye on what comes next, so make sure you get plenty of updates from me!
Find out more:
New Nursery Nutrition Guidelines and Their Impact on Early Years Settings
How Nursery Food Standards Are Changing and What Parents Can Expect