Food and Well-Being at Wee Mack’s
At Wee Mack’s we aim to provide children with nutritious healthy meals wherever possible.
Our meal provision is outlined below:
- Children attending for a half day – Breakfast, snack & lunch (am), afternoon snack (pm)
- Children attending for a full day Breakfast, morning snack, lunch & afternoon snack.
Healthy Eating Policy:
- Meals on offer are balanced and healthy
- Menus are planned in advance, rotated regularly and reflect cultural diversity and variation. These are displayed for children and parents to view
- All allergens are identified and details of these are made available
- We provide nutritious food at all snack and mealtimes, avoiding large quantities of fat, sugar, salt and artificial additives, preservatives and colourings
- Menus include at least 3 of the 5 require servings of fresh fruit and vegetables per day
- Each main meal will include bread, rice, pasta, potato or other starchy food
- Each main meal will include meat, fish, eggs, beans or other non-dairy protein
- Parents and children are involved in menu revision
- Fresh drinking water is always available and accessible to children over 2s. It is frequently offered to children and babies and intake is monitored. In hot weather staff will encourage children to drink more water to keep them hydrated
- Individual dietary requirements are respected. We will gather information from parents regarding their children’s dietary needs, including any special dietary requirements, preferences and food allergies that a child has and any special health requirements, before a child starts or joins the nursery. Where appropriate we will carry out a risk assessment in the case of allergies and work alongside parents to put into place an individual dietary plan for their child
- Staff will sit with children during meals to ensure safety and minimise risks. Where appropriate, age/stage discussions will also take place with all children about allergies and potential risks to make them aware of the dangers or sharing certain foods
- Staff show sensitivity in providing for children’s diets and allergies. They do not use a child’s diet or allergy as a label for the child, or make a child feel singled out because of her/his diet or allergy
- Meal and snack times are organised so that they are social occasions in which children and staff participate in small groups. During meals and snack times children are encouraged to use their manners and say ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and conversation is encouraged
- Staff use meal and snack times to help children to develop independence through making choices, serving food and drink, and feeding themselves. Children aged 2-5 are encouraged to self-serve. Staff support children to make healthy choices and understand the need for healthy eating
- We provide foods from the diet of each of the children’s cultural backgrounds, providing children with familiar foods and introducing them to new ones. Cultural differences in eating habits are respected
- Any child who shows signs of distress at being faced with a meal he/she does not like will have his/her food removed without any fuss. If a child does not finish his/her first course, he/she will still be given a helping of dessert
- Children not on special diets are encouraged to eat a small piece of everything
- Children who refuse to eat at the mealtime are offered food later in the day or a sandwich alternative
- Children are given time to eat at their own pace and not rushed
- Quantities offered take account of the ages of the children being catered for in line with recommended portion sizes for babies and young children
- We promote positive attitudes to healthy eating through play opportunities and discussions
- The nursery provides parents with daily records of feeding routines for all children under 2 via daily diaries and feedback
- No child is ever left alone when eating/drinking to minimise the risk of choking
- We do not allow parents to bring in cakes on special occasions. Where we have frequent birthdays and celebrations we consider other alternatives such as celebrating through smiles and praise, stickers and badges, choosing a favourite story, becoming a special helper, playing a party game, dancing and/or singing their favourite song
- Children will be invited to participate in food preparation during activities. They will learn where their food comes from and why it is good for us.
- Menu items will be made in-house are far as possible, such as baking bread on the premises and making sauces from raw ingredients
- All staff who prepare and handle food are competent to do so and receive training in food hygiene which is updated every year
- In the very unlikely event of any food poisoning affecting two or more children on the premises, whether or not this may arise from food offered at the nursery, we will inform the Care Inspectorate as soon as reasonably practical and in all cases within 14 days. We will also inform the relevant health agencies and follow any advice given.
- Our Food & Nutrition Policy is available to parents and reviewed regularly
