eating

Mealtimes at nursery

At Blue Windmill Day Nursery, there’s always something delicious to look forward to at mealtimes — a warm lunch, the smell of toast, or a bowl of fruit shared with friends. We serve simple, tasty food that supports healthy growth and happy, unhurried eating. Our approach is guided by current early years recommendations and a common-sense belief that food should be fresh, varied and enjoyed together.

Our approach

  • Fresh, seasonal ingredients wherever possible.
  • Balanced meals across the week, with plenty of vegetables, fruit, wholegrains and plant proteins.
  • Reduced salt and sugar; no fizzy drinks or sweets.
  • Water and milk offered throughout the day.

A calm, social mealtime

We use family-style dining whenever we can: children sit with their peers and a practitioner, help to serve, try new tastes at their own pace and learn table routines through gentle encouragement.

Babies

Babies follow their own feeding routines and individual needs. We support parents’ choices on breastmilk, formula and weaning, offering smooth textures at first and introducing more variety as babies are ready. Practitioners sit with babies during feeds so it’s always a warm, responsive experience.

Toddlers and preschoolers

As confidence grows, children help with small preparation tasks—washing fruit, buttering bread, snipping herbs from our garden—and learn about where food comes from. We celebrate “garden to plate” moments when we can harvest what we’ve grown.

Allergies and special diets

We take allergies and religious or cultural diets seriously. Individual care plans are agreed with parents and clearly shared with the staff team. Allergen information is available for every dish, and separate utensils/serving procedures are used when needed.

A typical day (example)

  • Morning snack: fruit or veg sticks; milk or water.
  • Lunch: a balanced hot main with vegetables and a simple dessert (e.g. fruit yogurt or baked fruit).
  • Afternoon snack: oat cakes, cheese or hummus, fruit.
  • Tea: light savoury options such as soup with bread or pasta with veg.

Working with families

We value parent partnerships—please talk to us about your child’s routines, preferences or cultural foods. When our seasonal menu is published, we’ll share it here and in the nursery.

Food safety

Food is prepared and served to high hygiene standards by trained staff. We monitor fridge/freezer temperatures, follow strict cleaning schedules and review our procedures regularly.

Helpful resources

If you have any questions about nutrition, allergies or your child’s specific needs, please contact the nursery team—we’re happy to help.

Quotes

“When you wake up in the morning, Pooh,” said Piglet, “what’s the first thing you say to yourself?”

“What’s for breakfast?” said Pooh.

Winnie-the-Pooh, A.A. Milne

mud kitchen illustration for blue windmill day nursery in rugby
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