The Importance of Nutrition Education in Early Years Settings

Nutrition plays a vital role in every child’s development, especially in the crucial early years when growth, learning and habits are rapidly forming. The foods children eat, and the attitudes they develop towards food, have lifelong effects on their health and wellbeing.

For early years practitioners, understanding how to promote healthy eating and embed nutrition education into everyday practice is essential. It ensures children not only receive balanced diets but also learn to make positive choices that support lifelong wellbeing.

1. Nutrition is fundamental to healthy growth and development

During the first five years of life, children experience rapid physical and cognitive growth. Their nutritional needs are high, and the foods they consume directly impact brain development, concentration, and immune function.

When practitioners understand nutrition, they are better equipped to make informed decisions about meals, snacks, and food experiences within their setting. Balanced nutrition supports:

• Cognitive development and concentration
• Physical growth and energy regulation
• Emotional wellbeing and behaviour management

Educators who embed nutrition education into daily routines help children explore food positively, encouraging curiosity, independence, and healthy relationships with eating.

2. Nutrition education supports learning and wellbeing

Children learn best through play and exploration, and food provides a powerful, sensory way to learn.

Discussing colours, textures and tastes, or exploring where food comes from, naturally integrates nutrition into Aistear’s themes of Wellbeing, Identity and Belonging, and Exploring and Thinking.

When children understand what makes a meal healthy and experience mealtimes as calm, enjoyable social moments they build emotional resilience and confidence.

Educators who model healthy behaviours can also influence children’s food preferences, helping to prevent fussy eating and poor habits in later life.

By studying with Portobello Institute, early years professionals gain the theoretical and practical tools to make these learning opportunities meaningful and developmentally appropriate.

3. Meeting early years quality standards through nutrition education

In Ireland, Tusla’s Early Years Regulations and quality frameworks such as Síolta place clear emphasis on promoting children’s health and wellbeing.

Services must demonstrate that they provide nutritious meals, follow hygiene standards, and encourage healthy habits.

Qualified practitioners with a strong grounding in nutrition education can support compliance and inspection readiness.

They contribute to healthy eating policies, staff training, and daily routines that align with national guidance.

Portobello Institute’s Early Years programmes prepare educators to meet these professional and regulatory expectations with confidence, equipping them with both practical skills and evidence-based knowledge.

4. Empowering families and communities through nutrition awareness

Early years practitioners are often trusted sources of advice for parents. When educators have a solid understanding of nutrition, they can provide accurate information to families about children’s eating habits, portion sizes, and mealtime routines.

Encouraging parents to get involved through shared cooking sessions, healthy recipe ideas, or newsletters helps extend positive food messages into the home. This partnership approach supports not only the child but also the wider community, promoting better public health outcomes.

Why choose Portobello Institute for early years education

For more than 45 years, Portobello Institute has been a leading provider of early years education and childcare training in Ireland.

We work closely with sector professionals to design courses that meet the evolving needs of educators, managers and support staff.

Portobello’s flexible study options including blended and online learning allow practitioners to continue working while gaining a respected, internationally recognised qualification.

Dedicated tutors, small class sizes, and real-world assignments ensure each learner receives personal support and practical preparation for their career.

A pathway to professional growth and better outcomes for children

Upskilling as an early years practitioner is a powerful way to enhance professional practice and improve children’s outcomes.

By understanding at a deeper level how to support child development and how diet influences learning, mood, and wellbeing, practitioners can deliver higher-quality care and make a real difference in their setting.

Graduates of Portobello’s programmes often progress into leadership roles, management positions, or specialised pathways strengthening their career prospects while enriching children’s daily experiences.

Start your journey with Portobello Institute

The importance of nutrition education in early years settings cannot be overstated.

It supports every aspect of a child’s growth and helps create a foundation for lifelong health.

By studying and upskilling at Portobello Institute, you’ll gain the knowledge, qualifications and confidence to promote healthy, nurturing environments where children can thrive.

If you are interested in studying Early Years at Portobello Institute, visit our faculty here.