There are some food and drink requirements that have been put in place to ensure that children are given healthy food by early years settings and schools.

Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) The EYFS is divided into two parts. The first part looks at the education programme. As part of the education programme, children are meant to learn about making healthy food choices. The second part of the EYFS deals with keeping children safe and healthy. In this second part, there is a requirement for early years settings to provide nutritional food appropriate to the age of the children and also make fresh water available at all times. There is also a requirement to ensure that food is prepared hygienically and that staff has the skills and knowledge to do this.

While there are no specific guidelines in the National Curriculum in relation to food, there are national school food standards that are compulsory for most schools to use when providing food and drink. 

The national standards include the need for schools to provide fruit and vegetables at mealtimes and also to restrict foods that are high in fat, sugar, and salt.