Nutritionists say too much fibre and too little fat on nursery menus can lead to stunted growth

For years nutritionists have recommended a diet high in fibre and low in fat, with plenty of fruit and vegetables. Now, however, nurseries are being told the food they serve in accordance with these guidelines is unsuitable for toddlers and could lead to vitamin deficiencies and even stunted growth.

'Nurseries are applying the principles of adult healthy eating to the food they are supplying to young children,' said Sarah Almond, a consultant specialist paediatric dietician who has analysed the results of a trading standards study into nursery food.

'We expected the study to show nurseries were serving children food that was too high in calories, fat, saturated fat and salt, and low in vegetables and fruit. Instead, we found that the majority of nurseries had gone to the other extreme and appeared to be providing food that was too low in calories, fat and saturated fat and too high in fruit and vegetables.' This situation was putting children at the risk of developing nutritional deficiencies, she said.

The research also found that four out of five nurseries were giving children portions that were too small and only three in 10 provided them with meals containing enough calories. According to Almond, the under-five age group has different and specific nutritional requirements to those children of school age: pre-school children have a high energy and nutrient requirement. Because they have a small stomach and a relatively under-developed gut, they cannot consume large quantities of food at a time but need frequent small meals and snacks throughout the day.

In addition, too much fibre - such as that absorbed through over-consumption of fruit and vegetables - can result in insufficient intake of other food groups and inhibit the absorption of key minerals. 'Because a significant number of children attend nurseries from 7am until 7pm, the food and nutrition they receive there are key to their health,' said Almond. 'Nurseries are applying requirements of healthy eating for school-age children and adults to the one-to-four age group, who have entirely different requirements.'

In contrast to school meals, there are no government regulations for the provision of toddlers' meals. Guidelines from Ofsted and the government on healthy food for young children offer nurseries only general advice, with a suggestion that childcare agencies refer to the Food Standards Agency's advice on food and nutrition for young children. Experts say the lack of national legislation means the trading standards study, which analysed samples from one week's worth of breakfast, snacks, lunch and supper from every nursery in East Sussex, is likely to be an accurate reflection of the national picture.

'The majority of nurseries are confused or misinformed about what entails healthy eating for the under-five age group,' said Neil Leitch, campaign director of the Feeding Young Imaginations at the Pre-School Learning Alliance. 'They are over-focusing on the message about eating five portions of fruit and vegetable a day and forgetting that it is completely inappropriate to simply purée a meal that would be healthy for a four-year-old and feed it to a two-year-old.

'The nutritional content of toddlers' meals is a proper science and nurseries are simply not aware of vital calories, fats, carbohydrate, sugars, fibre, protein, vitamins and minerals.'

Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries' Association, agreed: 'Nationally, nurseries face conflicting advice about food. Consistent advice from Ofsted and other bodies about nutritional requirements for this age group are badly needed.'