Could early years chefs be one of the most overlooked drivers of children’s health and wellbeing? This independent evaluation of the Early Years Chef Academy explores the impact of a pioneering programme that equips chefs to become advocates for healthy habits across settings, families and communities.
Introduced in 2019 by London Early Years Foundation (LEYF), the Early Years Chef Academy trains chefs from all Early Years settings to be experts in child nutrition and to help children, staff and parents build healthy habits for life.
Following six cohorts of participants, the report highlights how nutrition expertise can influence children’s everyday experiences and support lifelong health outcomes. Packed with learning, evidence and real-world implications, it offers valuable insights for anyone interested in nutrition, health inequalities and the wider role of early years settings.