Growing brains, growing bodies: Understanding ultra-processed foods

The first five years are a once-in-a-lifetime window of opportunity for brain development. During this period, food does far more than fill tummies, it helps support learning, behaviour, emotional wellbeing and lifelong health. This article and podcast episode explore the emerging evidence around ultra-processed foods and why food quality matters during the early years.

Read the article here:

https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/growing-brains-growing-bodies-understanding-ultra-processed-foods/

This episode is sponsored by Little Dish

Hillary Graves founded Little Dish in 2006 to provide fresh, nutritionally balanced meals for young children that tasted as good as homemade food, unlike shelf-stable alternatives with long shelf lives. Today, the award-winning range includes nine toddler meal recipes made with natural ingredients, available nationwide in the chilled aisles of major supermarkets and online.

Little Dish has expanded into frozen foods with Superstars, a new range of family favourites focused on better nutrition, including Chicken Nuggets with Hidden Veg, Crispy Fish Bites with Added Veg and Golden Veggie Bites with Mozzarella.

Every Little Dish product is developed with support from baby and child nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed and approved by a panel of 250 Tiny Tasters across the UK. Ready in minutes, the range offers busy parents, grandparents and guardians stress-free healthy meals kids love.

To find out more visit: www.littledish.co.uk

Listen to more:

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· How can we support children in the early years to flourish? With Jayne Carter: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/how-can-we-support-children-in-the-early-years-to-flourish/

· A guide to potty training with Rebecca Mottram: https://thevoiceofearlychildhood.com/a-guide-to-potty-training/

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Episode break down:

00:00 – Welcome and introduction to Louise
02:30 – Introducing ultra-processed foods in early childhood
03:05 – Why early brain development matters
05:45 – How food shapes brain connections, habits and behaviour
07:30 – What are ultra-processed foods (UPFs)?
10:15 – How to recognise UPFs through ingredients
12:00 – The NOVA classification and why food labels can be confusing
13:10 – Surprising examples of UPFs, including bread and baby food
15:20 – Why the concern is also about what UPFs replace
17:45 – Children's higher nutritional needs and brain energy demands
19:30 – Fortification, breakfast cereals and missing nutrients
21:05 – Fruit pouches, "no added sugar" claims and free sugars
24:10 – What happens when fruit is industrially processed
28:00 – Home-blitzed fruit, weaning and food texture
30:05 – Fruit sugars, teeth and moderation
31:40 – Vegetables, natural sweetness and balanced menus
33:30 – Texture progression, oral motor skills and speech development
35:30 – Developing children's palates through variety and repeated exposure
37:20 – Gagging, choking, allergies and safe food exploration
39:15 – Talking to children about what food does for their bodies
41:05 – Avoiding reward-based language around food
42:25 – Food relationships, marketing and emotional eating habits
43:45 – EYFS guidance, sugar and the need to explain why
45:00 – Advice for parents and educators: reducing UPFs without blame
45:35 – Early childhood settings, safeguarding and the role of menus
45:59 – Closing reflections and thanks

For more episodes and articles visit The Voice of Early Childhood website: https://www.thevoiceofearlychildhood.com