In the years before school, your child will grow faster than at any point in their life. That’s why it’s so important that children have the right fuel to help drive that growth. What your child eats is essential to help their development and ensure that they’re getting the best possible start.
We know that parents put so much effort into making sure that children eat well at home and that’s why it is so important that nursery food is just as nutritious. Here are five ways that we support healthy eating at nursery.
- Meals are cooked freshly on site each day
At Alpha Kindergarten Fletton, we have our own dedicated cook who prepares meals freshly in our kitchen each day. This means that we know exactly what is in the meals that we are providing to children and can use fresh ingredients to provide the highest quality meals.
- Our meals are designed with nutrition in mind
When we put together our menus, we plan them to ensure that each meal supports your child’s growth and development. We do this by ensuring that each meal has the correct nutritional balance for early years children. Each day, we incorporate at least five servings of fruit and vegetables into the food your child eats.
- We say no to added ingredients
We know how hard parents at home work to avoid ‘added extras’ in their child’s food. This is something we respect at nursery, so we never add salt to meals and we limit the use of sugar.
- Healthy snack time
Snacks are an important part of the day at nursery and provide vital fuel during play. We serve them mid-morning and mid-afternoon. They will vary each day and include items like vegetable sticks, fruit and rice cakes. We use this as an opportunity to help your child understand the importance of healthy choices.
- Meal times support your child’s social development
Meal times are fantastic opportunities to support your child’s communication and we treat these as social occasions. Your child will sit at the table with their friends, talking to each other, learning about appropriate behaviour and improving their confidence. When eating with their peers, we find that children are often more likely to try new foods – helping those ‘fussy eaters’ to discover new things.
