Pre-School in Okehampton Nutrition
Nutrition & Food
Many children are in nursery for a whole day, so it is very important that the food they receive is nutritious, balanced and varied. It is also vital that it fuels their developmental needs and meets any dietary requirements they might have.
The food we serve at Bambinos nurseries is provided by YumYumMe, a Plymouth based business that provides healthy, nutritionally balanced, homecooked food to nurseries in the local area.
All dishes are made using fresh, seasonal and, wherever possible, local ingredients.
Allergies, food sensitivities and other special dietary requirements
As part of our induction process, we will ask whether your child has any specific dietary requirements due to medical conditions, allergies, intolerances, cultural or religious beliefs, or whether they follow a particular diet such as vegetarian, vegan, or pescetarian.
If they do, we will notify our staff and YumYumMe, who will ensure that your child’s food is prepared in a separate area to avoid cross contamination.
According to our Food and Drink Sensitivity & Allergy Policy, children with special dietary requirements are served first to maintain strict food safety measures.
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Mealtimes
- 8-9am: Breakfast
- 10:30am: Snack
- 12pm: Lunch
- 3:30pm: Tea
If required, we ask you to supply ‘made up’ baby formula milk in sterile bottles daily, following the Department of Health’s best practice guidelines, and we can warm bottles as needed.
In close consultation with parents/carers, we provide babies with pureed fruit, vegetables, and meals when they are ready to be weaned.
For health and safety reasons, we cannot serve homemade food, though we accept sealed baby food jars and yoghurts. Our nursery manager is happy to discuss specific dietary needs or preferences in detail with you to ensure your child’s requirements are met.
Children who start before 8.30 a.m. are offered a choice of breakfast items such as cereal, toast, muffins, or pancakes, with a variety of toppings and a drink of milk. Snack times include a range of options like fruit, vegetables, biscuits, breads, or dips. Lunch includes a hot meal and a dessert, while afternoon tea is a lighter meal.
Menus are displayed on parent notice boards, and meals are enjoyed as a social event among the children and staff.
We encourage age-appropriate independence during mealtimes, so children will help to set the table, they also use cutlery, cut up their own food, pour their own drinks, and clean their plates after they have eaten.
We also encourage social communication and age-appropriate behaviour during mealtimes, with staff modelling what we expect to see and hear.
Staff are also always present for health and safety reasons, as well as to assist the children with eating and drinking.
The cost of all meals and snacks is included in the nursery fee.
