Nursery Snacks and Lunches
Snacks and lunches are an important part of the children's day.
They provide opportunities to learn about routine, independence, good hygiene practice and healthy eating. It is also a very social event when children have the opportunity to develop their language skills as they chat to each other and staff.
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Nursery lunches
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All 3-5 year olds and eligible 2 year olds are provided with a hot lunch free of charge. Lunch can be purchased for those not eligible for funding. The menu offers a choice of healthy, tasty and nutritious meals. The current cost of a nursery lunch is £2.43
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Packed lunches
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Parents of children who are not eligible for a free lunch can supply a packed lunch if they do not want to purchase a nursery lunch. The nursery does not have any fridge storage space for packed lunches therefore it is essential that parents provide a cool pack to ensure that their child’s lunch is suitable for serving at lunch time. As a health promoting nursery we have prepared some guidelines which we ask parents to follow when preparing their child’s packed lunch.
Only plain water or milk should be provided to drink, the nursery can supply fresh drinking water.
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Food group
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Examples of foods that can be provided as part of a healthy packed lunch
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Bread, rice potatoes, pasta and other starchy foods
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Sandwiches are an easy choice. To give a little variety, different breads and rolls such as wholemeal, granary, poppy seed, sesame seed, pitta bread, bagels and baps can be tried.
Breadsticks or crackers can also be included in this group.
Home-made pasta and rice salads are ideal.
Fruit scones, pancakes or fruit loaf can be offered as healthier alternatives to confectionery.
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Fruit and vegetables
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Chopped raw vegetables such as carrots, cucumber, peppers or cherry tomatoes are ideal choices.
A wide variety of fruit can be included. Fruits that are in season are often more economical. Include a pot of fruit salad as a change to a whole fruit.
Try some dried fruit such as raisins, sultanas, mango or apricots.
Trying out new fruits and vegetables not normally eaten by children may increase the variety of fruit and vegetables eaten at home.
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Meat, fish, eggs, beans and other non-dairy sources of protein
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For sandwich fillings, include ham, turkey, chicken, fish, houmous and egg.
Too much mayonnaise or salad cream should be avoided as these are high in fat, salt and sometimes sugar.
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Milk and dairy foods
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For a dessert include milk-based puddings such as yogurt, fromage frais, a small pot of custard or mousse.
A small serving of cheese, e.g. cheddar, edam or mozzarella, on a sandwich could also be included as part of this group.
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Snacks
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Lennoxtown Nursery is a health promoting nursery and we use the N.H.S. Health Scotland document, Setting the Table as guidance to ensure that we are providing well-balanced and healthy choices for the children. To encourage the children to make positive choices of the foods they eat they are involved in choosing foods for our snack menu. The menu is changed every term and consists of a rolling three week rota.
Rolling snack menu
