Ultra-Processed Foods and the Impact on Early Childhood Complying with the EYFS & Building Healthy Habits for Life

🎓 Course Overview Ultra-processed foods now make up over 60% of calories in the average UK child’s diet. Research links high UPF intake to obesity, poor diet quality, emotional regulation issues, sleep disruption, and long-term disease risk. In the early years, when the brain, body, and habits are rapidly forming, these foods can have lifelong consequences. This course empowers early years practitioners to recognise, reduce, and replace UPFs, in line with EYFS nutrition guidance and current public health recommendations. 🧠 Why UPF’s Matters in the Early Years The food landscape surrounding our youngest children has changed dramatically, with ultra-processed foods (UPFs) now making up the majority of calories many children consume before school age, yet the World Health Organisation and many others citing them a global concern for human health. This course empowers early years professionals to understand, manage, and reduce UPF intake in line with EYFS Nutrition Guidance, ensuring your setting supports healthy development and lifelong positive food habits.