Bright Plates, Bright Futures
A long-standing partnership between Bright Beginnings and Les Cotils — which has provided freshly prepared lunches to children for around five years — has taken an important step forward thanks to new three‑year funding secured jointly by Bright Beginnings, Les Cotils and the Health Improvement Commission.
The Bright Plates, Bright Futures initiative brings the three charities together to improve children’s access not only to nutritious, affordable meals but also to positive mealtime experiences that help shape lifelong healthy eating habits.
The new funding places the programme on a sustainable footing, enabling the partners to expand a model that supports families, strengthens early years provision and ensures young children enjoy meals that are both nutritious and delicious.
Working with Les Cotils over the years has brought real benefits for our children and we are extremely grateful for the time they donate to prepare, cook and deliver the food. The meals are fresh, varied, and child friendly, and families really value having this support. Some of our children also take complimentary meals home with them, which makes a big difference for their growth and development.
The initiative’s shared aim is clear: improving the health of children through nutritious and delicious meals, ensuring every child has the best start in life. But the work extends well beyond the plate. The funding also enables a wider programme focused on creating welcoming, sociable mealtimes; supporting staff to role‑model positive eating behaviours; and encouraging conversations about food that build children’s confidence and curiosity.
Bright Beginnings has also introduced further changes as part of its whole‑setting approach, including healthier, inclusive ways to celebrate birthdays that avoid reliance on sweet treats — strengthening consistency between food provision, staff practice, and the nursery’s ethos
The next phase of the project will involve gathering parent views to help shape future menus, trialling new dishes to support children to explore a range of flavours and textures, and providing further training for early years practitioners on portion sizes and food independence.
All three partners expressed their appreciation to Northern Trust for supporting the next chapter of this collaborative project.
Read more about our work in the early years here Mini Munch
If your setting is looking to make improvements to support children's nutrition get in touch: alex.kosmas@healthimprovement.gg