Healthy Eating at Nursery
At Hardingstone Day Nursery healthy eating is not just about what we put on the children’s plate each day. It’s about educating the children and giving them the knowledge and independence to make healthy choices that we hope, will last for the rest of their lives.
“We have a huge responsibility to make sure the food served is of the best quality”.For some children, who attend daily, nursery meals make up the majority of their weekly nutritional intake. This is a massive responsibility whether it is one meal a week or ten! Therefore we aim to ensure that everything the children eat is of the best quality, our menus are nutritionally balanced and above all the children enjoy their food. We feel passionately about this and therefore follow the respected “Children’s Food Trust” guidance on promoting and supporting healthy eating in early years and guarantee that the food we serve your children is high quality, freshly prepared and nutritionally balanced.
We are really lucky to have a talented and passionate cook working with us to create these fantastic meals for the children. We love coming up with new ways to excite the children with food.
Our cook ensures that children are fed well throughout the day. She holds a level 2 food and hygiene certificate and through our thorough systems and cleaning schedules ensures that the safety of children is paramount when storing, preparing and cooking food. We are proud that we consistently hold the highest possible food hygiene rating of 5 from the Foods Standards Agency.
We believe that children learn and develop best when they receive a high quality, nutritious, home cooked meal during the day. Children at Hardingstone Day Nursery benefit from opportunities to try different healthy foods through our 4-weekly rotating menu. Children are supported and encouraged to serve their own foods and pour their own drinks enabling children to develop their independence and self-confidence. Staff often eat with the children to model healthy eating.
Children can access breakfast between 8.00 and 8.30, morning snack at around 9.30, lunch at 12.00 and an afternoon tea at around 3.30. Breakfast, morning snack and afternoon tea are often offered on a rolling basis so that children can access when they are ready to eat. Fresh drinking water is available freely for the children to access as they wish, staff promote the use, through regular reminders as we know how busy the children do get!
We celebrate different cultures and festivals from around the world. For example, the children enjoy sweet and sour chicken, rice and noodles during Chinese New Year, and curries and naan bread during Diwali. We actively seek suggestions from parents to include on our menu throughout the year.
Foods grown in our vegetable patch often end up as an accompaniment to meals, children enjoy growing and eating tomatoes, runner beans, courgettes and peas alongside their lunch, as well as strawberries for puddings or snacks!
We assure you that all of your child’s dietary needs will be met whilst they are at nursery. We happily accommodate any special dietary requirements and collect this information prior to a child starting nursery.
Our staff and Cook are fully trained to understand the specific dietary requirements of different aged children, as well as those with allergies or cultural preferences. Our daily menus include a vegetarian option and cooking from fresh means all meals can be easily adapted to meet the needs of individual children.
Drinks at Nursery
Children have access to water throughout the day as well as at meal times. Milk is served to all children at breakfast time. Babies are catered for in line with their age and individual needs.