Nourishing Our Future (NOF) is pioneering programme, led by Essex County Council (ECC) and Anglia Ruskin University (ARU), collaborating with Essex early years settings and expert agencies in the fields of early years, nutrition, education, and public health. The first of its kind in Essex, and one of the first nationally, exploring the food environment within private, voluntary and independent (PVI) early years settings.
NOF celebrates the incredible commitment from early years practitioners to children's food education and nutrition, as well as identifying significant challenges when it comes to providing healthy meals to under-fives.
Essex County Council (ECC) Public Health (commissioners of the research) recognise that early years settings hold significant potential to develop long term positive change for young children's health and nutrition.
NOF aims to support early years settings, families, and children with early years food and nutrition, to improve the health and wellbeing of our youngest children, and future generations.
The experiences and education provided in day nurseries, pre-schools and with childminders are vitally important for children to grow and develop healthily.
of children’s daily nutrient intake is consumed in early years settings
of children in Essex are living with obesity and overweight by the time they start reception year.
of children in Essex are living with obesity and overweight by the time they reach year 6
