We understand the importance food and nutrition bears upon the health and wellbeing of children. Setting good nutritional values and standards early on in a child’s life will influence their knowledge, behaviour and attitudes towards healthy eating. Healthy bodies and minds are vital and it’s imperative children eat the right foods for growth and development. Tests have proven that early years healthy eating means children go on to make healthy food choices throughout their lives.
Nutrition
INTRODUCTION
Our Nutritional Background
OUR CHEF
Meet Sergio of Nursery Chef
Our fantastic chef Sergio holds an NVQ level 2 in Food Safety & Catering. Sergio also brings a wealth of cheffing experience. All meals and snacks are prepared freshly, each day and directly on the premises of our nursery. We strongly believe in the provision of home cooked, delicious meals whilst encouraging children to take a healthy interest in food. Our nursery garden is a wonderful space for children to plant, grow and harvest food which is then used in our meals.
DAILY ROUTINE
Table Manners, Dietary & Activities
We always encourage children to practice good table manners. Each child uses cutlery whilst helping themselves from serving dishes before scraping their own plates once finished. We endorse table patience before starting, advocate eating with mouths closed and promote elbows off the table; all the qualities you as parents teach at home.
Children enjoy breakfast, a two course lunch and Tea with us at nursery. We do recommend children have another meal once home with family. Our menus are changed seasonally on a four week rotation and are checked and adjusted by an external executive chef and nutritionist. For our babies under the age of one, staff work closely with parents and carers ensuring individual feeding routines are consistent with home.
Children are provided with water and milk during the day. Full fat milk is served for under 2’s and semi skimmed for those over 2. Nutritional milk values include calcium, protein, vitamin A and Zinc. Drinking water is available at all times and we recommend children drink between 6-8 glasses a day. Professionals suggest we do not serve squash or fruit juices as they are of low nutritional value and encourage children’s liking for sweet tastes whilst filling them up between meals.
Cooking activities are a popular part of nursery life. Blossom Lodge children thoroughly enjoy taking part in food tasting sessions. We celebrate different cultures and festivals whilst learning about and discovering foods from around the world.
We operate a nut free policy and Sergio is qualified in catering for your child’s specific dietary needs including:
• Weaning Foods
• Gluten Free
• Dairy Free
• Allergen Free
• Vegetarian
• Vegan
TRAINING
Food Hygiene & Allergen Training
Each and every member of our team is trained and has annual refresher courses on Food Hygiene and Allergen Training. We are inspected regularly by environmental health receiving ‘goods’ across all areas. Our nursery has been awarded a Five Food Hygiene Rating.
