Healthy eating is essential for proper growth and development in childhood; I try to encourage healthy eating from an early age.

I currently take guidance from the pre school learning alliance, which give both careers and parents helpful and informative advice on healthy and balanced eating.

It is vital that I give the children in my care the right balance of food, and I would ask that parents support my quest to keep the children healthy, by ensuring your child has a healthy and filling breakfast before setting off in the morning. Where possible this should include cereal, fruit, toast and a milky drink. I feel it is vital to foster a healthy attitude to eating breakfast from an early age, which will hopefully stay with them throughout adulthood.

I try to encourage the importance of eating healthy food and that children enjoy the social aspects of sharing the table with friends. Children are encouraged to use “good manners” at all times and to talk and interact with each other at the table. I find picnics are a fun and exciting way to make eating and enjoyable experience (weather permitting).

The following pages describe my nutrition policy

Nutritional Policy

1. All children in my care will have suitable food made for them.

2. All dairy products will be full fat.

3. Water will be encouraged and available at all times.

4. Children will be allowed second helpings of fruit of milk-based desserts.

5. Children will still receive dessert if they refuse their main meal.

6. A healthy snack will be offered if children are hungry between meals.

7. Parents or guardians will be advised if their children are eating well.

8. Parents of children who are on special diets will be asked to provide as much information as possible about suitable foods and in some cases asked to provide food themselves.

9. I will sit with the children whilst they eat and provide a good role model for healthy eating.

10. Children will be encouraged to develop good eating skills and table manners and given plenty of time to eat.

11. Children will be encouraged to play outside everyday, weather permitting. This will ensure that they have an opportunity to be exposed to sunlight which helps their bodies make vitamin d.