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.
Nutritious, Home-Cooked Food Made On-Site
At Bambinos, we know how important it is for children to enjoy nourishing, balanced meals throughout their nursery day – meals that fuel their growth, support their development, and give them the energy to explore, play and learn.
We’re proud to now serve fresh, home-cooked food prepared on-site every day by our in-house chef, Dawn, who brings a passion for healthy eating and a flair for creating delicious meals that children love.
Our menus follow a meat-free approach, using wholesome ingredients like fish, Quorn and a wide variety of seasonal vegetables. The menu runs on a three-week rotation and includes comforting favourites such as:
- Quorn cottage pie
- Fish pie
- Super veg pasta
- Lasagne
- Quorn roast dinner with all the trimmings
All meals are designed to be balanced, varied, and packed with flavour – helping children develop healthy eating habits from a young age.
Allergy Awareness and Dietary Needs
We take food allergies, sensitivities and dietary requirements very seriously.
As part of your child’s induction, we’ll ask you to share any specific dietary needs – whether due to allergies, intolerances, cultural or religious beliefs, or lifestyle choices such as vegetarianism or veganism.
This information is:
- Shared with all relevant staff and our chef
- Documented daily as part of our food safety procedures
- Used to ensure meals are prepared separately with dedicated utensils and cooking areas to avoid cross-contamination
To maintain strict food safety measures, children with special dietary needs are always served first.
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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.
