Food & Nutrition

Truly Scrumptious!

Children should enjoy their food whatever their age and we ensure that meal times at Head Start are a pleasurable experience. Our meals and snacks are carefully planned, well balanced and prepared on the premises by our highly experienced resident nursery cook (MK parent provided packed lunch) using fresh produce from local suppliers.

At meal times your child is encouraged to eat a wide range of foods in a relaxed atmosphere with their regular carers. Most dietary requirements are catered for and our menus are always on display. The menus are regularly reviewed and we encourage children and parents to make suggestions for all. We often have celebration food linked to various festivals to try and your child will learn many social skills at the dinner table.

A light snack is served mid morning with water or milk. A hot two course meal is provided at lunch time and a variety of hot tea time meals are served in the afternoon.

Babies are fed with milk their parents provide. When they are ready for solid food we purée freshly prepared food from our kitchen and as your child develops we gradually introduce a few lumps into their meals as per your guidelines.

Fresh water is available and offered to all children throughout the day.  The Bees simply help themselves to water when they wish from their named sports bottle. The Owls have a ‘cafe’ system for their snack whereby they pour their drink, sit and eat their snack when they wish during the morning. To encourage independence they simply help themselves to fresh water when they are thirsty.

Eating healthy food will give your child more energy to do the things they love for longer; it will also help with their concentration. We involve our cook in some of our activities and try to educate your child as to where the food they eat actually comes from. Your child may grow their own seasonal vegetables and fruit in the nursery garden, which make meals so much more interesting!

The food our cook provides looks good and tastes even better!