Food and Nutrition
We are virtually evangelical about our food. We believe that we have a responsibility to instil healthy eating habits in children. And the children eat well at Nursery, enjoying a wide variety of lovingly prepared meals. Indeed, our food is so tasty that as well as holding the coveted title for Nursery Chef of the Year 2011 - from Nursery Management Magazine (The best Nursery food in the country - it's official!), we were also shortlisted for the Food Award 2018 by Nursery World.
All meals are made daily in our own on-site kitchen. We cater for special dietary requirements. Dinners are well-balanced and healthy yet tasty, proving the nutritional elements children need. Our menu is planned by the Owner, a Mum of four, who has a knack for planning healthy food that children find tasty. She is also qualified to level 2 in Catering for Specialist Groups, including children with special dietary requirements. All staff have a food hygiene qualification.
In the morning, we enjoy "Snack and Chat" where the children choose from two fresh fruits and one healthy cereal. Lunch is home-cooked daily, including favourites such as minestrone soup, beef stew, freshly made quiche, chicken with mango sauce, ham and pea cheesy risotto, for example. Fun but healthy food, such as Tacos, Mediterranean Tapas, Chick Pea Korma and our very own “Cowboy Casserole” are also featured. Our menu is posted weekly.
Afternoon Tea is always home made bread, which we make daily, topped with humous, ham, marmalade or jam served with a suitable fruit or vegetable accompaniment. The children's favourite is green pitted olives!
Purees for babies are home made fresh on-site, with attention paid to the nutritional needs of young children and any specific requests of the parents.
Care and consideration is given to the ever-changing feeding requirements of each individual baby, with the introduction of new feeding stages from purees to “lumpy” textures, to finger foods and eventually, to using cutlery. We serve, for example, carrot and apple, pea and pear or leek and potato, generally sticking to fresh ingredients in season.
We cater for individual dietary needs and, in close consultation with parents, ensure that all special requests are met consistently.
We encourage Baby Led Weaning in consultation with parents and Health Visitors.
