We are launching a new landscape review exploring racial equity in early years food provision, supported by Impact on Urban Health (IOUH). In the context of food provision, this means creating a learning environment which recognises, values and incorporates a diverse range of food cultures, and provides opportunities for all children to share and explore their own food experiences. In practice, examples might include menus that integrate and reflect the full range of children’s food cultures, building role play areas that are stocked with cooking equipment children may recognise from their home environments, and through holding culturally informed and inclusive conversations with children and their families about food.
Why this work matters
IOUH’s work is grounded in the understanding that poor health, poverty and racism are deeply interconnected, shaping the food environments that people are exposed to and support they can access. Within their Children’s Health and Food Programme, this has led to a renewed focus on racial equity and on building a more nuanced understanding of how children’s food environments intersect with racism, cultural identity and wider drivers of inequality.
For the early years sector, there is growing recognition of expertise and guidance on anti-racist practice and cultural inclusion in early years food provision, yet no frame of reference of this looks like in practice.
To address this gap, we will undertake a landscape review to build a shared understanding of how racial equity can be embedded in early years food provision. By identifying gaps, assumptions and inconsistencies in the current knowledge base, we will develop a set of guiding principles to position racial equity as a core component of work across the sector.
Our Approach
We will combine a rapid review of existing evidence with targeted stakeholder engagement, bringing together research, practice and lived experience. A review of literature on racial equity in early years nutrition will examine existing policy, research and sector-led guidance. Engagement with early years practitioners, parents Early Years Food Coalition members and experts will build understanding of lived experience and highlight examples of best practice.
We are looking forward to collaborating with Lildonia Lawrence, whose expertise in race equity, health inequalities and intersectionality will shape the design and delivery of this work, ensuring it remains grounded, reflective and responsive to practitioners’ and families’ lived experiences.
Outcomes
Racial equity in early years food provision is underexplored and underserved. This project will produce a report and a set of guiding principles that give the sector a shared evidence base and practical tools to start making progress.