Healthy Eating Policy – Under 5's
Good health is important to everyone. A varied and balanced diet is an important way of protecting health, and promoting proper growth and development.
There are no healthy or unhealthy foods, only healthy or unhealthy diets. For nursery children, a healthy diet means broadly:
- A balanced diet with plenty of variety
- A diet which provides enough energy for satisfactory growth and development
- Plenty of fruit and vegetables
- Plenty of iron rich food
- Plenty of calcium rich food
- Not having sugary foods and drinks too often.
The national nutritional standards for lunches in nursery's say that there must be available every day at least one item from each of the following food groups:
- Starchy foods such as bread, potatoes, rice and pasta
- Fruit and vegetables.
- Milk and dairy foods
- Meat, fish and other non-dairy sources of protein.
Policy
The following standards will be followed to ensure the highest quality of nutritious food is provided.
- Starchy foods : on the whole we will purchase only wholemeal bread (including pitta bread etc), when making pastry, crumble etc 30% wholemeal flour & / or oats to be used. Breakfast cereals will be purchased according to their nutritional value regarding iron and folic acid, no sugary breakfast cereals will be purchased. 30% of whole grain rice will be cooked with white rice.
- Fruit & Vegetables : Locally sourced, seasonal, organic fruit and vegetables will be purchased wherever possible. Dried fruit, eg raisins will be used as a good source of iron. A minimum of 1 fruit and / or vegetable will be available for each meal. Tinned fruit will be purchased in natural juice rather that syrup. Children will be encouraged to investigate the ‘raw' produce and wherever possible assist with the preparation of the fruit and vegetables.
- Milk and dairy foods : Milk and dairy products are an excellent source of calcium which is important for good bone development. Only whole milk will be used. Cheese will be used only once per week as the main source of protein,
- Meat, fish and other non-dairy sources of protein : to minimise the risk of food poisoning, no fresh meat or poultry will be served, the nurseries operate with a vegetarian menu with the exception of occasional teas when frozen cocktail sausages, sausage rolls etc are cooked and served on the same day. Protein items are achieved with Quorn, beans, eggs, cheese (max once per week), lentils, tuna. Iron will be sourced from the following to ensure adequate intake; breakfast cereals, bread, beans, lentils, peas, raisins, sultanas, cauliflower, broccoli, eaten with vitamin c will ensure the iron is absorbed.
Monitoring Nutritional Standards
The Centre Manager will monitor the food provision on a daily basis, each term a formal checklist will be carried out and the menus will be reviewed each term.
Other
Menu is utilised to ensure a different style of meal is on offer each day of each week.
No known nut items will be used although traces may be found in other products.
Dairy-free, gluten-free diets will be catered for accordingly.
Salt will not be added during the cooking process and will not be offered as a table accompaniment.
Fresh fruit & vegetables wherever feasible will be used
NO FRESH RAW MEAT PRODUCTS WILL BE PURCHASED
Consideration is given for oven space and preparation time
The menu may be revised on a daily basis
No known nut items will be used although traces may be found in other products.
Parents are responsible for informing the centre about any food allergies, all staff will receive regular communication and training on severe allergies.