Researchers at Leeds University undertook a study of food served to 1.5 million children by nurseries and childminders in 2003. They found that just 46 per cent of nurseries and 23 per cent of childminders provided a fruit or vegetable with a main meal or main snack every day.
Co-author of the study, Pauline Nelson, said it revealed some 'startling variations' in the nutritional values of meals served.
'Some nurseries modelled themselves on the Italian Reggio Emilia nurseries, spending up to two hours eating together and having a huge variety of food on the menu. Others provided nothing but chocolate spread sandwiches.'
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