| Healthy Eating |
During your child’s day we will provide breakfast, mid-morning snack, and lunch. A cooked tea for babies and a light tea for pre-school is provided in the afternoons. Throughout meal times children are encouraged to self serve and make healthy choices. Fresh drinking water is available at all times.
All meals for the children are prepared daily from fresh ingredients by our Nursery Cooks. Our menus offer a wide variety of balanced and nutritious meals, catering for many dietary requirements. We offer separate menus for our babies and children.
Quote from Ofsted (Inspection 2005)
“The children benefit from a good healthy nutritious diet and their individual requirements are taken into account. Their independence is very evident at meal times where they routinely serve their own food portions. Younger children are offered drinks throughout the day, whilst older children are learning the effects of activity on their bodies, to know when they need another drink, as fresh water is easily accessible.”
Buttercups ensures that great care is taken to present meals where the food is cut into small pieces enabling your child to eat enjoyably and safely. For these reasons, we have our own strict regulations regarding food shape i.e. we do not serve your child whole grapes, cherry tomatoes, whole meatballs and any other foods with potential to cause difficulty in swallowing.
Parents are asked to provide ready-made bottles for children who require them. A sterilising unit is used to sterilise baby and toddlers feeding utensils.
The nursery provides cow’s milk for children who are able to drink it.
We always aim to provide a meal that you feel comfortable for your child to have e.g. puréed vegetables. We gradually progress with the diet i.e. adding different food and then move onto different textures when you and your child are ready. We liaise with parents on a regular basis regarding any changes.
