Food & Nutrition
Food and nutrition are critically important in the early years of a child’s life because they directly impact their growth, development, and overall well-being. Proper nutrition during this period lays the foundation for lifelong health and has long-term effects on physical, cognitive, and emotional development.
Creating healthy eating habits for young children stretches far beyond their time with us. It encourages a lifelong positive relationship with food whilst building healthy bodies and healthy minds. Here’s how we encourage healthy eating habits:
Rotating menus: Evidence shows regular exposure to foods helps children to develop their taste for them, yet we still want to offer variety. So, we rotate our menus on a three week basis, offering the perfect balance between exposing children to new foods yet allowing them to become familiar with flavours.
A Mealtime focus: We prioritise lunch and evening tea as a time where children can enjoy their food. There is a social aspect to all meals and, where possible, children are encouraged to take an active interest in the food they eat.
Fresh food everyday: We serve children fresh food every day and accommodate many different dietary requirements. We have procedures in place to protect children with food allergies and offer different meal options too. If your child has a dietary requirement, simply let us know as part of our registration process and we’ll make sure we meet the needs of your child.
A balanced and nutrient-dense diet during the early years lays the foundation for a child’s future health, helping them grow physically, mentally, and emotionally. Encouraging healthy eating habits early on also fosters a lifelong positive relationship with food.
Common Challenges:
- Picky eating and fussy eaters: Many toddlers go through phases of picky eating. Offering a variety of healthy foods without pressure can help.
- Food allergies: Early identification and management are key. Informing nursery in time of any food allergy is important. monitored way helps reduce risks.
Healthy Eating Habits:
- Family meals: Eating together can model healthy habits and encourage a positive relationship with food.
- Avoiding force-feeding: Children should be allowed to listen to their hunger and fullness cues. We would never force feed a child,
- Encouraging self-feeding: Fostering independence by allowing children to feed themselves helps develop motor skills and autonomy.
Key Aspects of Food and Nutrition in our Nurseries
We provide a balanced diet to children in
Nurseries must provide a balanced diet that includes foods from all the major food groups:
- Carbohydrates: Such as bread, rice, pasta, and potatoes to provide energy.
- Proteins: Meat, fish, beans, and other legumes for growth and repair.
- Fruits and Vegetables: To provide essential vitamins, minerals, and fibre. These should make up a significant portion of the diet.
- Dairy or Alternatives: Such as milk, cheese, and yogurt to provide calcium for strong bones and teeth.
- Fats: Healthy fats from sources like full fat milk, cheese and fish and essential for brain development and overall health.
Meal Planning
At our settings we provide meals and snacks throughout the day.
A daily meal plan includes:
- Breakfast: Often includes grains (such as cereal or toast), fruits, yoghurt and milk.
- Mid-morning snack: Light and nutritious, often consisting of fruits or vegetable sticks, and a drink of water or milk.
- Lunch: A more substantial meal with a balance of protein, vegetables, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
- Afternoon snack: A healthy option to keep energy levels stable, such as yogurt, wholemeal crackers, or fruits.
- Evening Freshly prepared Tea: A more substantial meal with a balance of protein, vegetables, carbohydrates, and healthy fats.
- Evening Snack: Light and nutritious, often consisting of fruits or vegetable sticks, and a drink of water or milk.
- Drinks: Water and milk.
*Drinking Water is available for children throughout the session.
Portion Control and Age Appropriateness
- Portion sizes are adjusted according to the age of the child. Younger children have smaller appetites but require frequent, nutrient-dense meals.
- Textures: As children develop, we introduce more complex textures, starting with pureed and mashed foods for younger children, and progressing to finger foods and self-feeding for toddlers and preschoolers.
Cultural and Dietary Considerations
We cater to the diverse cultural and dietary needs of children, including:
- Vegetarian or vegan diets: Ensuring protein and nutrient needs are met through plant-based alternatives.
- Allergies: Managing common allergies such as, dairy, or eggs, while providing safe, alternative foods.
- Religious or cultural preferences: For example, serving Halal or Kosher meals if required.
Encouraging Healthy Eating Habits
- Exposure to a variety of foods: At our settings we introduce children to a wide range of Flavors, textures, and food groups to encourage varied and balanced eating.
- Positive mealtime environment: Mealtime is a social experience where children are encouraged to eat together and enjoy their food, fostering good social and eating habits.
- Self-feeding and independence: Children are often encouraged to feed themselves,
- which helps develop motor skills and autonomy around food choices.
Monitoring and Feedback
- Monitoring food intake: Our staff often monitor how well children are eating and provide feedback to parents via our interactive app called Famly, especially if there are concerns about picky/fussy eating, allergies, or other dietary needs.
- Parental involvement: We work closely with parents to ensure that children’s dietary needs, preferences, or allergies are met.
Nutrition plays a vital role in the health and development of young children. By providing balanced, nutritious meals and promoting healthy eating habits, we help ensure that children receive the nutrients they need for physical growth, cognitive development, and long-term well-being. The combination of a positive food environment, attention to dietary needs in consultation with parents/carers, and education about food helps set the foundation for healthy eating habits that can last a lifetime.
Snapshot of our weekly rotational menu
BARLEYMONT GROUP 3 WEEKS ROTATIONAL MENU
WEEK ONE
| Meal Week 1 | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| Breakfast 7.45am – 9.00am Planned to provide about 20% of a child’s daily energy and nutritional requirements | Homemade Porridge, Variety of Cereals (Weetabix, Cornflakes, Hoops, Rice Crispies), Toast, Choice of Fresh fruit, Milk/Water.Allergens: G, DA, W | Homemade Porridge, Variety of Cereals (Weetabix, Cornflakes, Hoops, Rice Crispies), Toast, Choice of Fresh fruit, Milk/Water.Allergens: G, DA, W | Homemade Porridge, Variety of Cereals (Weetabix, Cornflakes, Hoops, Rice Crispies), Toast, Choice of Fresh fruit, Milk/Water.Allergens: G, DA, W | Homemade Porridge, Variety of Cereals (Weetabix, Cornflakes, Hoops, Rice Crispies), Toast, Choice of Fresh fruit, Milk/Water.Allergens: G, DA, W | Homemade Porridge, Variety of Cereals (Weetabix, Cornflakes, Hoops, Rice Crispies), Toast, Choice of Fresh fruit, Milk/Water.Allergens: G, DA, W |
| Mid-Morning Snack 10.00am Planned to provide about 10% of a child’s daily energy and nutritional requirements | Butter Cream Crackers with Bananas, Milk/Water.Allergens: DA, W | Breadsticks with carrot and cucumber sticks, Milk/Water.Allergens: G, W | Digestive biscuits with Apples.Allergens: W | Rice cake with Cucumber and Cheese sticks, Milk/Water.Allergens: DA | Brioche roll with pears, Milk/Water.Allergens: W, DA, E |
| Lunch 12.00pm Planned to provide about 30% of a child’s daily energy and nutritional requirements | Main: Chickpea Curry with herbs (V), Basmati Rice, Naan Bread, Salad.Dessert: Fresh Seasonal Fruit.Allergens: W | Main: Vegetable Couscous with Barbeque Chicken/Paneer (V).Dessert: Fruit yoghurt.Allergens: W, DA | Main: Fish/Quorn (V) vegetable Pasta Bake, Bread Roll.Dessert: Ice cream/Fresh Fruits.Allergens: W, DA, F, SY | Main: Lentil Coconut curry (V) with basmati rice, Naan and Salad.Dessert: Fresh Seasonal Fruit.Allergens: W, DA | Main: Roast Chicken/Quorn (V) with new potatoes & gravy, Steamed Vegetables.Dessert: Banana & Custard.Allergens: W, DA, SY |
| Afternoon Tea 3.45pm Planned to provide about 20% of a child’s daily energy and nutritional requirements | Main: Lamb/Veg (V) Spaghetti Bolognese, Broccoli and Garlic bread.Dessert: Angel Delight.Allergens: W, DA | Main: Margarita Pizza (V) with Oven Fries and Salad.Dessert: Vanilla sponge with Custard.Allergens: W, DA, E | Main: Vegetable Soup (V) with Cheese Sandwiches.Dessert: Rice pudding.Allergens: W, DA | Main: Chicken/Veg Sweet & Sour Stir Fry, Pitta Bread.Dessert: Peaches with cream on top.Allergens: W, DA, E | Main: Macaroni Cheese Bake (V) with Garlic Bread, Steamed Sweetcorn and peas.Dessert: Ice cream/ Fruits.Allergens: W, DA, MU |
| Afternoon Snack 6.00pm Planned to provide about 10% of a child’s daily energy and nutritional requirements | Breadsticks and cucumber sticks, Milk/Water.Allergens: W, DA | Rice Cakes and pears, Milk/Water.Allergens: DA | Cream cracker with cherry tomatoes, Milk/Water.Allergens: W, DA | Pancakes with bananas, Milk/Water.Allergens: W, DA, E | Fruit bread with raisins, Milk/Water.Allergens: W |
