A Fantastic Day at the Nourishing Our Future Conference
10th April 2026
We were delighted to be part of this year’s Nourishing Our Future (NOF) Conference at Anglia Ruskin University, bringing together early years professionals, public health teams and sector leaders to explore how we can create healthier food environments for young children.
What is Nourishing Our Future?
The Nourishing Our Future (NOF) initiative is a pioneering programme led by Anglia Ruskin University and commissioned by Essex County Council Public Health. It brings together researchers, early years practitioners, local authorities and sector partners to better understand and improve food provision for young children.
The programme began as one of the first large-scale UK research projects to explore the food environment in early years settings, particularly within the private, voluntary and independent (PVI) sector. Through this research, NOF has identified both the challenges settings face—such as cost, resources and varying levels of food knowledge—and the opportunities to create meaningful change.
Building on these findings, NOF is now focused on:
Supporting settings to implement the latest Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) nutrition guidance
Providing practical tools, training and resources
Encouraging collaboration between settings, parents and professionals
Promoting positive mealtime experiences and food education from an early age
The initiative also includes the development of the NOF Award, which recognises and supports settings in embedding high-quality food and nutrition practices into their everyday provision.
At its heart, Nourishing Our Future is about creating a joined-up approach to early years nutrition—ensuring that children receive the best possible start through consistent, healthy food experiences both in settings and at home.
At Zebedees, this is something we are passionate about and actively support through the meals we provide and the resources we share with nurseries. Being part of the NOF Conference gave us a valuable opportunity to contribute to this wider conversation and to share practical ways settings can bring these principles to life.
Supporting Healthy Eating in the Early Years
Throughout the day, there was a strong focus on practical ways to help children develop positive relationships with food. From keynote speakers to workshops and discussions, the message was clear: early years settings have a powerful role in shaping lifelong eating habits.
We were proud to contribute to this conversation by showcasing how simple, engaging food experiences can help children build confidence with new foods.
A Busy Stand and Lots of Conversations
Our Zebedees stands were busy from the moment delegates arrived. We loved meeting so many nursery practitioners and having meaningful conversations about the challenges and opportunities around food provision in early years settings.
We also provided breakfast for delegates on arrival, including our rainbow layered yoghurt pots and freshly baked Blueberry, Banana & Date Muffins, which were very well received. It was great to hear so much positive feedback — and even better to see so many people coming back for seconds!
Hands-On Learning: Our Rainbow Pizza Workshop
One of the highlights of the day was our interactive workshop, where we ran a hands-on rainbow pizza activity.
Led by Dawn from our Client Services team alongside our consultant nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed, the session explored how food-based activities can:
Encourage children to explore new foods
Build confidence with different textures and flavours
Support learning in a fun and age-appropriate way
Delegates had the opportunity to try the activity themselves and see how easily these ideas can be brought into their own settings. There was a real sense of enthusiasm in the room, and it was fantastic to see so many practitioners engaging with the concept.
Looking Ahead
The NOF Conference highlighted just how much passion there is across the sector for improving children’s nutrition and wellbeing. It was inspiring to be part of a community committed to sharing best practice and driving positive change.
We’re proud to support early years settings in delivering nutritious, balanced meals and creating positive food experiences for children. Events like NOF are a great reminder of the impact that can be achieved when we work together.
Thank you to the NOF team for organising such a fantastic event!
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