The School Food Trust's guide on early years food an drink provision has drawn criticism from the Daily Mail who claim it's an example of "the super-nanny state".

In the article writer Richard Hartley-Parkinson describes guidance provided by the booklet Eat Better, Start Better as "extraordinarily basic", though he did concede that "some of the ideas are useful".

However, the piece received several negative comments when posted on the Mail's website, with one poster, J. Curry from Oxfordshire, writing: "This isn't a needless document designed to further instil us in a nanny state, it's a document that is clearly needed given the severe lack of understanding when it comes to feeding our young."

The new menu plans also received the backing of Children's Minister Sarah Teather who said: "Nurseries play a vital role in getting children from all backgrounds to develop good eating habits - but many lack the expert knowledge of what is the best food to serve.

"Parents rightly want their children to be eating healthy, nutritional food and thanks to these voluntary guidelines drawn up by the School Food Trust, we will help nurseries and other childcare providers do just that."

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A section of Eat Better, Start Better  for full details and to download a copy visit www.schoolfoodtrust.org.uk 

Let us know what you think of the SFT's new booklet by commenting on the story below or contacting us @journalfhc on Twitter.

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