Have your heard about the Healthy Start scheme? Healthy Start was set up by the UK government to support those with children, as well as people who are about to become parents, with healthy eating. The scheme initially gave out paper vouchers, but this year has changed to a card that is topped up weekly.
The scheme supports some families living in England, Wales or Northern Ireland with children younger than four years old, or who are more than ten weeks pregnant (please find information on the scheme for Scotland below). You can find out whether you are eligible by following the links to the Healthy Start website at the bottom of this page.
Those who are eligible can receive a Healthy Start card. Money is added to this card which can then be spent in participating shops and supermarkets.
The money added to Healthy Start cards can be used to purchase:
The money can also be used to buy Healthy Start vitamins and vitamin drops.
People who are eligible for the Healthy Start scheme receive £4.25 a week during pregnancy, £8.50 a week for children from birth to one year old, and £4.25 a week for children aged between one and four.
Sometimes, when faced with a bag of fruit and vegetables, it can be tricky to think of recipes that are tasty and fun, and it is easy to stick to the same tried and trusted kitchen staples. If you are looking for some mealtime inspiration and want to get your children involved in the action, don’t forget to check out some of our favourite recipes in the app!
For more information, check out the NHS Healthy Start pages online here:
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/frequently-asked-questions/applying-for-healthy-start-faqs/
https://www.healthystart.nhs.uk/
If you live in Scotland, you may be eligible for Best Start Foods payments. Find out more here: https://www.mygov.scot/best-start-grant-best-start-foods