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Healthy Meals & Snacks | Red Squirrel Nursery
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Nutrition
Mealtimes
Our Meals include Morning Snack, Two Course Lunch and Afternoon High Tea
Mealtimes are part of everyday life, but for young children, they are a crucial part of their earliest development. Children’s tastes and eating habits form in the early stages and gradually change over time, but the impact of a child’s diet on their growth, health, and academic achievements lasts a lifetime.
We are very much aware of our responsibility to support all the children in our care to establish healthy eating habits and to make healthy choices. We are committed to offering healthy, nutritious, well-balanced meals and snacks which meet the individual needs and requirements of all the children and providing opportunities and experiences to develop the children’s knowledge and understanding of healthy eating concepts.
Mealtimes are happy, social occasions for children and staff alike giving wonderful opportunities to share positive interactions and promote learning across the curriculum.
We use meal times to:
Help children to develop independence by making choices
Incorporate areas of the Curriculum for Excellence and the Pre-birth to Three Curriculum such as literacy and numeracy.
Promote healthy eating by giving the children the knowledge and skills to make healthy food choices and help to establish lifelong healthy eating habits
Encourage children to operate independently at mealtimes - pouring drinks, serving, spreading or cutting food as appropriate, and clearing away and washing up their dishes.
Encourage children to take part in the preparation of food; to learn where it comes from and how we cook it; and to try a variety of different tastes and textures.
Menus
Our menus are essential in achieving a well-balanced and healthy diet for the children in our care, and to support this, we have worked with Nigel Denby, an award-winning Registered Dietitian, to craft our recipes and menus.
Menus are planned following the seasons and rotated on a 4 weekly cycle, which includes a vegetarian option. Our recipes have no added sugar or salt and include a variety of sensory qualities which help children’s learning and enjoyment of food.
All of our meals are prepared daily by our in-house Chefs using fresh seasonal produce.
Dietary Requirements
Our recipes are planned meticulously to ensure we can eliminate allergens and intolerances to meet the individual needs of our children.
Diets due to cultural and/or religious beliefs are respected.
The nursery is a nut-free zone this applies to both children and staff.
Training
All our staff receive training in Food Hygiene Level and Safer Allergens. Our Chefs have also undertaken REHIS-accredited Food and Nutrition in Early Years training to support menu development.
Don't Just Take Our Word For It...
I wanted to say to you how delighted we are so far with the care that our son has been given. When I took him home yesterday after only his second time being there he was just so happy and fulfilled! This could be such a difficult time for him and the fact that he was so happy yesterday is clear evidence that he has been given the cuddles, structure and support that he needs.
Also, compliments to the chef! His lunch was so delicious I am so happy to know he is in safe and caring hands while I return to work. Thank you to all the team
Parent 2023
My daughter has attending the nursery from a baby and is now in the preschool group. The outdoor learning and facilities are amazing and it’s what drew us to the nursery. My daughter loves being outdoors and I can definitely see the difference in her wellbeing when she comes home after a day in the forest.
Parent 2023
A beautiful setting with lots of outdoor opportunities. Staff are very nurturing and understand the needs and likes of my little one. My son has loved coming to the nursery from 6 months old and enjoys telling me about his day while looking through photos on the nursery app.
Parent 2023
The nursery took the extra time to really support my child when they first arrived and he was a little apprehensive and had never been away from a family setting. They offered advice on how to help him settle and have been so reassuring to not just our son but ourselves too. As a consequence, we have felt very involved even though we can’t be there which is invaluable. Thank you!
Parent 2023
My son has been a different child since attending Red Squirrel. He’s never walked into nursery without being really upset until now. Moving nurseries halfway through this time was a hard choice but one I’m glad I made. He talks positively about all of the team and I can’t thank everyone enough for making this big step seem so easy!
Parent 2023