Diet and Nutrition

The sharing of refreshments can play an important part in the social life of the pre-school as well as reinforcing children’s understanding of the importance of healthy eating.  The pre-school will ensure that:

With regard to Food:-

• The weekly menu will provide the children with a healthy snack, which is fresh, wholesome and balanced, prepared in a hygienic manner – See snack preparation procedure.
• Large quantities of sugar, fat, salt and additives are avoided.
• Foods containing nuts are never offered.
• Only milk and water will be served at morning/afternoon snack/lunch. Water stations are available both inside and out at all times.

§  Children will be given small amounts of food and encouraged to try everything.  They will be given the opportunity to ask for more.

• Non-sweet based festival foods will be offered and tried by both adults and children to celebrate the festival.  i.e. Eide, Chinese New Year.  The preschool welcomes and accepts these foods being provided by parents.

§  Any food-based activities will reflect the healthy eating ethos of the establishment, with the exception of Festival celebrations, which may be sweet, based.  All activities will be sent home for later consumption.

With regard to learning

• Snack times will be offered AM and PM.  This is in the form of a snack bar, which is open for approximately 1 hour per session, children are free to choose when they want to access, but are reminded before it closes if they have not done so.
• Snack time will be used as an opportunity to provide education about healthy eating, as part of this, children will be required to wash their hands prior to eating, with regular discussion as to why we do this.
• A member of staff will sit with the children whilst they eat and will provide a good role model for healthy eating.
• Children will be encouraged to develop good eating skills and table manners and be given enough time to eat.  Notwithstanding special needs, open top cups will be used with doidy cups being available if necessary.
• Children will be encouraged to take responsibility for their own plates and cups by washing them up afterwards.  (These are rewashed in the dishwasher).
• Advice will be given to parents about suitable ways of celebrating birthdays and religious/cultural festivals.  Parents will be advised that cakes or sweets are not to be brought in as gifts to children for birthdays.

With regard to behaviour

• Food will never be used as a reward
• Withholding food will not be used as a form of punishment.
• Children will be encouraged to try new foods, stickers may be given
• Parents/carers will be notified if their child refuses to eat/drink at snack time.

With regard to special Dietary requirements

• The weekly menu will be given to parents of children with allergies in advance
• Parents of children who are on special diets will be asked to provide as much information as possible about suitable food and in some cases may be asked to provide the food themselves.
• Children’s medical and personal dietary requirements are respected.
• The dietary rules of religious groups and of vegetarians/vegans are known and met in appropriate ways.
• All staff will know allergies of children, and any such foods, causing severe allergic reactions, will not be used in cooking activities, if that child is present. In the event of the level of allergy being unclear, staff will question parents prior to use

Snacks are funded from the main budget, with augmentation from ½ termly parental voluntary contributions.