Food at Archfield House Nursery

“Nothing beats the smell of home-cooked food!”

It is well known that in the early years of a child’s development, eating habits are formed for life. At Archfield House Nursery, we will introduce your child to a wide range of fresh and stimulating flavours which will help to establish healthy eating habits.

We believe that meal and snack times should be happy and sociable occasions for children and staff. We encourage the children to self-serve their meals which in turn encourages positive interactions. We are fully committed to offering children healthy, nutritious and balanced meals and snacks which meet the individual’s needs and requirements. Each day, parents are given information about the food their child has had during the day.

Our menu incorporates foods from different cultures including varying flavours and textures. The menus have a basic weekly structure which includes two meat dishes, two fish dishes and one vegetarian dish. A vegetarian option is available daily.

Menus are planned in advance, reflect cultural diversity and variation and are in accordance with the Early Years Nutrition Partnership. All meals are prepared from fresh and healthy ingredients without added salt or sugar. The nursery does not use  processed foods or artificial additives to enhance flavours.We pride ourselves in only purchasing grass fed beef and free range lamb and farm assured pork and poultry.

We gather information from parents regarding their child’s dietary needs including allergies and where necessary, we work with parents to implement an individual food plan for their child.
Children are offered milk and water to drink and are able to access fresh drinking water throughout the day.

Our nursery chef, Helen has many years experience in catering and cache level 2 and 3 in early years nutrition. She provides a great variety of dishes and seasonal food and monitors the children’s likes and dislikes and adjusts the menus accordingly. Parents are invited to meet with Helen upon request. At parents evenings, Helen prepares some homemade meals from the menu for parents to taste and sample.

We have a cookery club, that all children will get a chance to enjoy plus lots of food based activities which include the children preparing their own snacks and tea.