A seal of confidence for early years menus that truly support child development

Feeding children in the early years is about so much more than filling little tummies. Every meal is an opportunity to build brains, support emotional regulation, strengthen bodies, protect teeth, and shape lifelong food habits.

That’s why Tiny Tums created the Bowl of Approval, a badge that recognises early years settings who have taken real care and attention when planning menus to support the whole child, we ensure you are compliant with the EYFS, but good nutrition for children, is about so much more than meeting these guidelines.

Planned menus with development in mind, not just “healthy” in name
Considered early years nutritional needs across the week
Taken steps to reduce reliance on ultra-processed foods where possible
Prioritised variety, balance, and positive food experiences
Worked alongside Tiny Tums to strengthen your nutrition approach with confidence

What the Bowl of Approval means:

When you display the Tiny Tums Bowl of Approval, it shows families, staff and visitors that your setting has:

It’s a visible sign that your setting understands the powerful role food plays in early childhood.

How Tiny Tums supports you

Working with Tiny Tums means you’re not just getting recipes, you’re getting a nurturing, evidence-informed approach that helps your menu support:

Brain-building nutrition for learning, attention and development
Mood-friendly meals that support emotional regulation and steadier energy
Gut health, immunity and digestion for happier tummies and better wellbeing
Bone, muscle and movement support for growing bodies
Healthy food relationships through supportive food language and positive exposure

We help bring nutrition to life in a way that makes sense for busy early years teams, supporting your families by providing parent-ready guides and making a real difference for children.

Celebrating our 2025 Bowl of Approval settings

In 2025, we worked with a brilliant group of nurseries who committed to taking their menus further, and proudly awarded them the Tiny Tums Bowl of Approval.

These settings led the way in recognising that the food they provide today helps shape children’s health, development, and relationship with food for years to come.

2026: Bigger, better, and packed with resources

In 2026, our Bowl of Approval offer is expanding, with an even stronger package of Tiny Tums nursery resources to support teams beyond the menu.

From practical training tools to child-friendly nutrition resources, our aim is simple: to help early years settings feel confident, consistent, and proud of the food environment they’re creating. Starting strong in 2026, we are already working towards giving the Tiny Tums bowl of approval to these amazing nursery groups:

Ready to join the growing list?

Would you like to join the growing number of nurseries who truly understand their role, and their influence, when feeding the children in their care?

If you’re ready to strengthen your menu, build staff confidence, and show families you take early years nutrition seriously, we’d love to work with you.

New settings receive a Tiny Tums welcome pack and on completion of a menu project, settings receive their Tiny Tums bowl of approval pack and stickers, certificate and images you can proudly display in settings and in your digital marketing.

Enquire now to find out how your setting can earn the Tiny Tums Bowl of Approval.