Highworth Childminder - Nutrition

Child nutrition is of great importance to me. I provide good quality, home cooked food on a daily basis. I am a strong believer in the government’s ‘5 a Day’ campaign and talk with the children about what makes up a portion and how they can make sure that they get their five portions every day.

I encourage the children to try foods, fruits and vegetables that they may not have tried before. I also engage the children in the preparation of food to share with them my passion for good food. This includes making cakes, making pizzas or just helping to prepare lunch.

Depending on what time of day your child is with me I can provide breakfast, lunch and an after-school snack.

Breakfast is provided at approximately 8.30am
Lunch is provided at approximately 12.00pm

Pureed baby food and made up formula or breast milk bottles need to be provided from home. If your child has any dietary needs please make me aware and these will be catered for.

Examples of meals served:

Breakfast

Cheerios

Toast with spread and a choice of either jam, Marmite or honey

Fruit

Porridge

Weetabix

Lunch and after-school snacks

Pizza (which, if appropriate, the children will help make)

Macaroni cheese

Pasta with sauce

Sandwiches – cheese, ham, turkey (with or without salad)

Baked potatoes with various fillings

Savoury wraps

If your child likes any of the following I can also accommodate curry, chilli, noodles, rice, fajitas. When I cover religious festivals with the children we try appropriate foods and dishes.

Daytime snacks and desserts

Homemade muffins

Raisin and oatmeal biscuits

Yoghurts

Cheese

Fruit

Raisins

Rice cakes

Fruit is always available. For example: apples, pears, bananas and grapes.

All children are provided with milk or water to drink freely throughout the day. Squash (low sugar variety only) may be offered at mealtimes, with parental consent.

Mealtime as a social occasion

I have a big dining table and we always sit down to eat as a group. Babies and small children are sat in appropriate highchairs/boosters. The children help by laying the table and are encouraged to serve themselves and others. We talk as a group about our day and discuss whatever the children want to talk about. I promote good manners e.g. not speaking whilst someone else is speaking, not talking with food in our mouths, the use of ‘please’ and ‘thank you’ and using knives and forks. We all sit at the table until everybody has finished.