Confused about the new Safer Eating requirements?
With my book, More to Mealtimes, I truly believe children can learn so much from food. The new guidelines that came in in September 2026 covers health, balanced and nutrition and for safer-eating requirements covering choking, supervision and preparation.
First things first is to really know your children. This is easier as a nanny, as you usually have less children and there is a more communication with parents. Having paediatric first aid certificates ever since I was 18, I am trained to spot anaphylaxis responses, allergic reactions and how to treat choking.
What I have learnt more than anything, as prepared as you can be, prevention is better so being aware of the foods that are the most hazardous for choking and cutting fruits properly to reduce choking is imperative.
Also, knowing what choking actually looks like and sounds like, and training the children to know what to do when they feel like they are choking. They will not make any noise, and they can't make noise if they are choking.
For older children, I teach them to bring attention to themselves. I learnt horrendous stories of adults choking to death in fancy restaurants, as when they feel like they are choking, they go to a bathroom as to not make a fuss.
For younger children, they can't understand but this is why it makes so much sense that supervision is more obvious in the EYFS guidelines. I am adamant that children have to sit down when they eat. This comes from an actual experience when I was a young nanny. The little boy was running around while eating an apple and while I did say for him to sit down, we were with many aunties and other relatives, they were telling me to let him be. He started choking on the apple and I felt like I went into robot mode, went through my training, then the piece of apple came out. After that, I do not let any children not sit down, no matter what other aunties or relatives say. Needless to say, they were filled with gratitude to me for not only watching him like a hawk so I could stop in fast but also for administering first aid that stopped him from choking. I also tell the children this story to make sure they understand why I want to keep them safe.
As someone with a nut allergy, I am the awkward one in a restaurant that has to speak to the manager to order my food. I feel very lucky that I am not anaphalaxis but I am trained to administer an Epipen.
One of the biggest practical lessons is: check, don't guess.
If a child has an allergy, check the ingredients of everything that goes into their meal, including sauces, spreads, bread, stock, dressings and packaged foods. The Food Standards Agency advises that if you are unsure whether a food contains an allergen, you should not give it to the child.
It isn't enough simply to remove an allergen from a finished meal.
Surfaces, utensils, hands and equipment need to be properly cleaned before preparing food for a child with an allergy. Allergens cannot simply be cooked away or removed once they have contaminated food.
This is particularly important for childminders who may be preparing several children's meals at the same time.
Childminders and nannies should work with parents and, where appropriate, health professionals to understand how a child's allergy should be managed.
Everyone involved in preparing or handling the child's food needs to know what the allergy is, what symptoms to look for and what action to take. The current early-years guidance stresses the importance of having accessible information about individual children's allergies and symptoms.
Nannies are not directly implicated by the new guidelines unless they are OFSTED registered but it is important to keep up-to-date on the regulations.
As a nanny, I am still responsible for preparing breakfast, packed lunches, snacks and dinner for the children.
So, rather than thinking “I'm not an EYFS setting, so this doesn't apply to me,” a nanny can use the guidance as a useful benchmark for safe practice.
Good mealtimes aren't just about getting children to eat their vegetables!
They are about creating routines that are safe, manageable and positive for everyone. Whether you're a parent, childminder or nanny, having clear systems around shopping, food preparation, allergies, mealtimes and cleaning can make life much easier.
On the 1st of October, Priya Kanabar and I are doing an instagram live to talk about the implications the new guidelines have on nannies and childminders. Come to @more_to_organising at 8.30pm.
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