All of the foods that are served here are prepared freshly at my home. They may contain any of the food allergen ingredients mentioned on this list.  

When a child joins our setting we will discuss food allergies and intolerences with parents/carers and we will make sure that, to the best of our ability we adhere to these. If you would like more information please go to food allergen information.

The children help to choose the weekly menu for dinner time and when someone new joins us we always try to include their favourite meal in our menu.

We will often dish up some of the meal and put vegetables, salad and other accompanyments on the table so that the children can make their own choices and try new things.

Fresh drinking water is available for all children throughout the day.

Each child is encourage to drink 1/3pint (189ml) full fat milk each day.

Our setting has been awarded Surrey County Council's 'Eat Well Start Well' accreditation.  This award monitors our food provision for all children including the variety and nutritional content, how food is prepared and how children with allergies are catered for.  

Our top tips for stress free meal time

1.Be prepared.  Tell children to go to the toilet and wash hands before every meal.  Guaranteed they will sit down, eat one mouthful and then need the loo.  Use correct seating for each child.  Children eat (and write) better when their feet sit flat on a hard surface so choose a high chair with a foot rest and dining chairs with bars across the front for feet.  If this is not possible put an upturned cardboard box under the table for children to put their feet on.  Place crockery (fork and spoon for children under 4 then add a knife after age 4 if you think they are ready).  By age 5 children are learning to spread and cut using a knife.  It usually takes until a child is 7 years old before they can successfully use cutlery to feed themselves without being too messy. 

2.Offer foods that are suitable to the ages and stages of development for each child taking into account any allergies or cultural foods.

3.Don’t worry about the mess!! Mess is going to happen so just go with it. We use table mats for plates and cups so that children know where their plates and cups should go.  I spent so many hours cleaning up spills when children put their cups next to their plates and then knocked them over with their elbows.  The younger children use bibs.  I like the thin soft plastic ones with Velcro fastenings at the neck and a little pocket at the front to catch fallen food.  We have a dog who hoovers up any dropped bits and pieces but you could use a waterproof mat under the younger children’s chairs.

4.Allow enough time.  This is so important for everyone including the adult.  Double the time you think you need for meal times and use it as a chatting opportunity.

5.Avoid distractions.  Turn the TV off, turn musical or interactive toys off and put away.  Make sure people aren't arriving at your front door in the middle of dinner.

6.Follow the lead of your children.  I often found I was feeding babies sideways because they had been asleep over lunch time and needed to eat a little later but were so interested in what the other children were doing they swivelled right round in their chair.  Now I turn them so that they can see what’s going on and position myself in front of them, that way they are looking at something interesting (the other children) and facing me so that I can feed them.

7.It’s ok to dislike some foods.

8.Be a good role model.  Where possible eat with the children.  Try new foods, use your knife and fork, tell them why you don’t like something (it’s too bitter or slimy etc).  Eat a healthy diet.

9.Get into a good routine.

10.Make it a fun time

Below is a selection of the food options available (and we are always adding to this list).

Snack Bar - A selection of:

Houmous with pitta bread, bread sticks, carrots, cucumber, cherry tomatoes

Strawberries, kiwi fruit, banana, plum, nectarine, apple, grapes or other seasonal fruit

Dried mango

Cheese cubes

Olives

Dairy Lee Dunkers

Mr Kipling cake slices

Squeezy yoghurts

Dinners

Roast chicken, roast potatoes, vegetables and gravy

Sausages, yorkshire puddings and vegetables

Chicken wraps with sour cream and roasted vegetables

Chicken nuggets, baked beans or peas and chips

Beef Stew with dumplings

Chicken curry with naan bread, poppadums and pilau rice

Chinese takeaway - children choose items

Jacket potato with tuna mayonnaise, cheese and beans

Lamb chops, chips and salad

Chicken caesar salad

Shepherds pie

Breaded fish with chips and peas or beans

Salmon with roasted vegetables and pasta

Spaghetti carbonara and salad

Lasagne

Puddings

Ice lollies

Yoghurts

Apple crumble

Ice Cream

Sponge cake and custard

Individual meringues with fruit and cream

Pancakes with banana, golden syrup, cream, nutella

Birthday Cake