Healthy Eating
Healthy Eating/Food Allergens Policy.
Nursery has a strict ‘no nut’ policy. This means that nuts and their derivatives, are not permitted due to children potentially being identified as having serious allergies to these food products. This includes sesame seeds, hummus, coconut, some chocolate spreads, nut oils and breads.
This policy is reviewed constantly as we regularly consult with parents to ensure that our records of all the dietary needs of those children currently attending, including any allergies are up-to-date.
We regards snack and all meal times as an important part of the day. For young children snack times are an important opportunity to interact with others, encouraging good communication skills, language development and awareness of healthy eating habits.
Before a child begins attending nursery we find out any special dietary needs and allergies. Information is recorded in the registration documents and relevant information will be displayed in the meals area. Staff have additional prompts in place to alert them to any child with an allergy or a special requirement such as a red dot on their name card and placemat.
In order for each child’s dietary needs to be met, we will ensure that:
•Information will be recorded about each child in her/his registration documents and any specific dietary needs or allergies will be relayed to all staff and displayed as previously described.
- Regular consultation with parents will ensure that records of their children’s dietary needs, including any allergies, are up-to-date.
- Snacks are nutritious, avoiding large quantities of sugar, salt, additives, preservatives and colourings. Snacks are planned in advance and the food offered is fresh, wholesome and balanced. Menus and recipes are available to parents/carers. Less healthy snacks may be offered to co-ordinate a theme or a special occasion, these are opportunities for discussion times.
- Children’s medical, religious and personal dietary requirements are respected and different foods and cultures are celebrated and greeted positively regardless of personal likes or dislikes.
- Children are encouraged to eat healthily.
- Semi-skimmed, organic, pasteurised milk or as an alternative, water is served with morning and afternoon snacks. Parents may provide fruit juices in a named container, if their child will not drink water or milk.
- Snacks from other cultures are provided to introduce children to foods which may be unfamiliar to them.
- Meal and snack times will be organised so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate.
- Meal and snack times are used to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink and feeding themselves.
- Children will have access to fresh drinking water from their water beakers. Children are encouraged to help themselves and put their beaker back on the tray when they have finished each time.
- Food is celebrated and seen as an important part of culture and tradition.
- All staff attend an accredited food hygiene course every three years.
- A range of teaching methods and resources will be used to promote healthy eating and discuss the need for a balanced diet, with regard to the ‘food triangle’.
- Staff are encouraged to be good role models for healthy eating.
Lunches
Nursery lunches are provided within the fee structure for children staying from 12noon to 2pm. Healthy cooked meals are available with a healthy breakfast, lunch and pudding and a substantial tea as well as snacks during the day and drinks.
We use organic milk and free range eggs as well as British butter and apples in our kitchen and source meat from a local butchers.
Parents are welcome to join their child for lunch on special occasions