Know anyone under 18 and pregnant? The NHS provide free vouchers to be used on healthy food and vitamins through the “Healthy Start” initiative.
Healthy Start is designed to help give children the best nutritional start in life by making healthy eating more affordable and providing the essential vitamins needed by mums and babies. They can be contacted on 0845 607 6823 and by visiting www.healthystart.nhs.uk.
Facts
- Good nutrition, ideally supported by breastfeeding, is one of the key factors in a child’s healthy development.
- Fruit and vegetables are a great source of vitamins, minerals and fibre.
- Potatoes, bread, rice, pasta and other starchy foods are good sources of energy, vitamins and fibre.
- All women who are pregnant or planning a pregnancy should take a supplement containing 400 micrograms of folic acid a day until the 12th week of pregnancy.
Source: Healthy Start
Read more
- Healthy Eating @ Healthy Start
Excerpt: Caring for young kids can be exhausting, but eating the right foods will give you energy. If you’re breastfeeding, it will help you pass on important nutrients that your baby needs to grow up strong and healthy. And if your kids see you eating a healthy diet, they are more likely to follow your good example and do the same.
- Healthy Start vouchers @ NHS Norfolk
Excerpt: For a baby’s first year you could receive up to £322 in vouchers and children
over one and under four years old could get more than £161 in vouchers for each full year they are on the scheme.
Message supplied by: Debby – Maternal, Infant Nutrition & Breastfeeding Co-ordinator @ NHS Norfolk
