Healthy Eating Menus
Here at Little Owls Day Nursery and Pre-school our menus have been designed to encourage children
to develop healthy eating habits and attitudes to food. Using the Pre-school Learning Alliance’s ‘The
Essential Early Years Cookbook’ as a basis, we have access to unique resources specifically designed for preparing healthy food for the under fives. We have created a varied menu full of old favourites and new less traditional dishes, vegetarian meals and party food. All of which contain fresh produce and ingredients, sourced locally and freshly prepared each day packing many vegetables and power foods into each meal.
NO Salt is added to any of our meals in any part of the cooking stages and we naturally sweeten desserts and cakes with fruits, fruit juice and Dates to lower sugar use to a minimum. Please see our sample menu.
Meal Times
Breakfast 07:00am to 08:30am
Snack 09:30am to 10:00am
Lunch 12:00pm to 12:30pm
Snack 02:30pm to 03:00pm
Tea 04:00pm to
04:30pm
Dietary Requirements
Weaning
All babies are different. Some may start solid foods earlier and take to it quickly while others may start later and take longer. Likewise some babies are choosy, while others seem to like everything. This is why our weaning menu is prepared freshly each day to suit individual needs and tastes, using key ingredients from our main menu for the day.
Vegetarians
All our vegetarian dishes are made to the same recipes are our meat dishes with the simple replacement of meat with Quorn. This ensures they look the same as other children’s meals and contain essential proteins.
Allergies
Where a child is allergic or intolerant to a food we replace with the ingredients with a suitable alternative, ensuring their meal look the same as all the other children’s meals. For Example: Dairy milk is replaced by oat milk and Dairy cheese with coconut cheese. With other allergies like eggs, We make egg free cakes and sponges.
Top 10 Health Foods
Helps detoxify the body’s systems, reduce inflammations and it is filled with anti-oxidants. Making it one of the best things that you can eat to maintain health and prevent certain types of cancers. It’s better to steam broccolis before eating them.
Garlic has a variety of antibiotic and anti-inflammatory chemicals. Garlic boosts your immune system, helps with metabolic functions and have been shown to have cancer fighting properties. To get it’s benefits, do not overcook it.
Whole grain oats are a great source of fibre, it can significantly reduce cancer risks, cardiovascular problems, and it can reduce Cholesterols.
Rich in B-12, vitamin D, and with one of the highest concentrations of Omega-3 fatty acids of any food. Eating Salmon can help improve Cardiovascular problems, improve memory and reduce depression
A good source of Vitamin C and cellulose fibres, Apples increase blood glucose and maintain cholesterol levels. Their antioxidant properties fight cancer and promote the production of Collagen that strengthens veins and capillaries.
High level of monounsaturated fat content reduces unhealthy cholesterol level, reduce heart diseases, slow down the aging process of the body and improves overall cardiovascular health.
Packed with antioxidants, Vitamin C and fibre, this wee berry might actually improve memory and slow down or postpone certain cognitive orders related to aging. The blueberry is low in sugar and can help
maintain a healthy glycemic level.
The popular root vegetable helps to maintain glucose levels while also boost the presence of vitamin A in the bloodstream essential for maintaining a healthy immune system and eyesight. Best served steamed or boiled, with a bit of Olive oil.
A cup of kale can surpass a cup of milk in terms of Calcium content. It’s complex chemical composition helps to fight cancer and can actually repair DNA or damaged cells. Retains its healthiness despite the
way it’s prepared.
Avocados are rich in Oleic acid which makes it useful against heart and inflammatory diseases. It also improves the body’s absorption of Carotenoids, the essential nutrient found in leafy greens and red/
yellow vegetables.
TESTIMONIALS
I have been so glad that both my children have been cared for and started their education with your fantastic staff at Little Owls.
Thank you all so much.
Fond regards
Sian Fordham
