• All food provided whilst in our care will contribute to an enjoyable healthy balanced diet and meet children’s individual needs.

 

• A senior member of staff will oversee all aspects of food in the setting.

 

• Staff will be trained in basic nutrition and food safety and hygiene.

 

• The food provided will reflect the diversity of the community which the setting serve.

 

• As part of the induction to the setting, parents will be asked to share information on their child’s dietary requirements.  This information will be used to plan for each child’s individual dietary provision.

 

• When adapting or changing menus, children’s food choices will be taken into consideration.

 

• Our weekly menu will be on display.

 

• Our weekly menu will provide children in our care with a tasty varied diet, to include food from the four main food groups :

Bread, other cereals and potatoes
Fruit and vegetables
Milk and dairy products
Meat, fish and alternatives

• Foods high in fat, salt and sugar will be limited in line with the current healthy eating guidelines for the age group of the children concerned.
  
  

• Children will be offered breakfast on arrival at the setting up to 9.00am.
  
  

• Our weekly menu will provide each full time child with 5 portions of fruit and vegetables each day whilst they are in our care (children will be encouraged to eat their 5 a day)
  
  

• All dairy products will be full fat apart from the over 2’s who can have semi-skimmed milk.
  
  

• Drinking water will be available at all times.
  
  

• Milk will be served at 5.15pm each day as a late afternoon/early evening snack.
  
  

• Non-valved, free flowing, beakers and whenever possible unlidded cups will be used for all drinks to protect children’s teeth.
  
  

• Children will be allowed to have second helpings of fruit or milk based desserts.
  
  

• Salt will not be used in any cooking at the setting and salt will not be provided at the table.
  
  

• The eating environment will be comfortable and relaxed and the children given plenty of time to eat.
  
  

• Practitioners will sit and eat with the children at meal times and will provide a good role model for healthy eating.
  
  

• Food and drink will not be used as reward or punishment.
  
  

• Practitioners will keep parents informed if there are changes in their child’s pattern of eating, including loss of appetite.
  
  

• Parents are discouraged from bringing in foods for birthdays or other celebrations.  If birthday cake is provided either by parents or the setting it will replace the pudding on that day.
  
  

• Children will be encouraged to play outside every day.  This will ensure that they have the opportunity to be exposed to sunlight which helps their bodied make vitamin D (in accordance with the settings sun safety policy)
  
  

• Healthy eating activities will be included as part of the education programme of the setting.
  
  

• Healthy eating education will be offered to parents either informally or through workshops where appropriate.