Helping children develop healthy eating habits is one of the most important roles a nanny can play. With the rise in childhood obesity, picky eating, and overly processed diets, it’s more essential than ever to create positive, playful experiences around healthy food.
Here’s how nannies can make healthy eating engaging, educational, and fun — turning everyday moments into lifelong lessons.
Why Healthy Eating Matters
Good nutrition supports children’s growth, brain development, immune system, and emotional wellbeing. But simply telling children to “eat your vegetables” rarely works! Nannies can use their unique role to model, teach, and guidehealthy choices in everyday settings.
Making Healthy Eating Fun
Here are a few playful strategies:
Get Children Involved
- Let them help wash fruits and veggies, stir ingredients, or set the table.
- Give them choices: “Would you like strawberries or banana slices today?”
- Grow herbs or salad leaves together on a windowsill.
Teach Through Games
- Sorting Game: Lay out pictures or toy foods and have children sort them into “healthy” and “sometimes” foods. Make sure to explain that no foods are bad — just that some help us grow strong, and others are treats.
- Food Rainbow Challenge: How many different colors can they eat today? Let them tick off a rainbow chart.
- Taste Tests: Blindfolded, can they tell if something is apple or pear, carrot or cucumber? Celebrate trying new things!
Use Stories and Play
- Read books about food and healthy habits.
- Use play kitchens or pretend picnics to practice making healthy meals.
- Invent silly characters like “Captain Carrot” or “Broccoli Superhero” to make vegetables more exciting.
Building Knowledge, Not Fear
It’s important to avoid moralising food (no “good” vs. “bad” labels). Instead, help children understand how foods work:
- Energy Foods (carbs like bread, pasta) give us fuel.
- Helper Foods (vitamins from fruits, veggies) keep us strong and healthy.
- Treat Foods (sweets, crisps) are yummy but best in small amounts.
Use simple, age-appropriate language and celebrate curiosity: “What do you think this does in your body?”
Final Tips for Nannies
- Be a role model: Sit and eat healthy foods with the children.
- Avoid pressure: Keep mealtimes relaxed; repeated exposure helps picky eaters.
- Celebrate effort: Praise trying new foods, even if they don’t like them yet.
Want to learn more? Don’t forget, National Nanny Association members get a special discount on the Healthy Eating for Children course with London School of Childcare. Check our members’ area for details!
Together, we can help raise a generation of happy, healthy eaters.