Organising meals for kids can be stressful at the best of times, with fussy eaters, allergies and mess all to contend with. With so much to account for, you can easily forget one of the most important factors: Nutrition. There are plenty of benefits to providing a tasty yet nutritious meal, ranging from improved concentration, raised energy levels for that playground fun and a boosted immune system. A balanced diet should ideally contain a mix of vitamins, minerals and protein, without leaning heavily on any one type of food. The comprehensive nursery services provided by Little Acorns Day Nursery include spacious inside and exterior play areas, books and toys aplenty, activities and themed days. As well as organised events and opportunities, our childcare specialists always endeavour to provide a delicious balanced meal for breakfast, lunch, tea and snack time, with varied menus and fresh ingredients.
Continue reading for additional information on the importance of nutritious meals, and how a nursery setting can provide healthy solutions to your meal time woes.
Balanced Meals And Snacks
Childcare providers have an important role to play in introducing children to a wide variety of food and drink, forming a pattern of regular meals and snacks. Understanding that every child is different, nursery staff need to navigate through the likes and dislikes of each individual, serving food which is full of goodness and satisfies picky eaters. You should never underestimate the importance of drinking water regularly either, and for these reasons, fresh drinking water is constantly accessible within our nursery setting, frequently offered to children and babies with intake monitored.
Importance Of Development
A balanced diet is crucial in the development of younger children, with a wide range of different foods giving a body the nutrients and micronutrients that it needs to correctly function. Healthy growth and development is only achievable if a diet is sensible and nutritionally stable, so a childcare setting should always plan the menu to include a variety of different tastes and food types. Striving for an assortment of flavours while keeping ingredients fairly simple.
Policies And Procedure
Parents and children are consulted in menu planning, with our commitment to health and dietary requirements ensuring a diverse selection of prepared snacks and meals. We respect different cultural backgrounds at all times, providing children with familiar food and introducing them to new ones. Our procedures ensure that children who refuse to eat at set mealtimes are offered food later in the day, given time to eat at their own pace without being rushed.
There are many factors to consider when deciding upon a nursery for your child, whether you live locally, your child has individual requirements to cater for or your little one is struggling with time away from Mum and Dad, the staff at Little Acorns Day Nursery are well-equipped to provide a friendly and welcoming atmosphere at all times. We care for 160 children across two separate sites, with dedicated childcare experts on hand to help. With a glowing local reputation, approval from Ofsted and multiple award nominations during our time of operation, we’re the Eastleigh nursery to choose. If you are interested in any of the services we provide, simply contact us today. We would be happy to help!