On this page, you will find resources to help you plan your Early Years menus.

Nutrition and Menu Planning

Watch the recording of our webinar on Nutrition and Menu Planning with our Nutrition & Food Quality Trainer, Lee Harland. This webinar will increase confidence in planning a menu that meets the nutrient requirements for children aged 1-4 years, improve knowledge of the Voluntray Food & Drink Guidelines and Food for Life Early Years Award criteria, as well as show the links between a healthy and sustainable menu and a whole-setting approach to food in early years.

Maintaining Healthy and Sustainable Menus While Prices Rise

Watch the recording of our webinar on maintaining healthy and sustainable menus in your settings for tips on how to introduce plant-based proteins, use cheaper ingredients and varied cooking methods during the cost of living crisis.

This document provides Food for Life's top tips for menu planning in your setting.

Top Tips for Menu Planning (269.5k)

This document provides Food for Life's top tips for planning a winter menu for Early Years children.

Top Tips for planning an EY Winter Menu (248.8k)

FL007 Introduction to the Early Years Award online course

Our online courses are free to all Food for Life enrolled schools. Request access to our Introduction to the Early Years Award online training course by emailing ffl@foodforlife.org.uk. Resources from the course are available here on the Learning and Skills Hub.

Related Guidance on Food Provision resources