Ireland’s first national healthy eating guidelines for one- to four-year-olds has been launched, with regular red meat and milk among the recommendations.

The guidelines, developed by nutrition experts and based on Irish dietary evidence, are to help parents and carers establish good eating habits in children.

Milk is identified as a key food in the diets of young children. The guidelines recommend offering children three servings of milk, yogurt or cheese every day.

It is also advised that water and milk be offered as liquids rather than sugary drinks.

To ensure children get enough iron, it is recommended that they are offered red meat three times a week. Breakfast cereals with added iron are also recommended for most days of the week.

Healthy habits

The guidelines stress that healthy eating habits that start at a young age can last a lifetime.

“This age is the perfect age to teach your child healthy eating habits for life. Lead by example. If you eat a variety of healthy foods, your child will be more likely to do the same,” the guide says.

Among the other key recommendations are small regular servings with appropriate portion sizes, limiting treat foods, a regular routine and more vitamin D in the winter months.

A vitamin D supplement is recommended every day from Halloween to St Patrick’s Day.

Speaking at the launch of the guidelines, Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly said: “We all want to give our children the very best start and helping them to establish a healthy relationship with food is something that will benefit them for their entire lives.”

Attention

The guidelines were also welcomed by Irish Creamery and Milk Suppliers president Pat McCormack.

He highlighted that “highly qualified and scientifically strenuous examination had demonstrated beyond any doubt that consumption of milk by young children was not just desirable but necessary and vital for healthy development”.

McCormack said it would be interesting to see if as much attention was given to official findings as “seemed to be accorded to anecdotal and unfounded musings by self-styled ‘activists’ and unqualified ‘nutritionists’”.

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