Food Policy and Menu

We want children at Little Acorns to enjoy both healthy food and healthy lifestyles. This is reflected through our healthy meals, snacks and drinks and also through the use of the outdoors for play, active learning and exercise. 

Snacks, meals and drinks are available for all our children, and we are also happy to heat up food for much younger children that you have provided for us. If you have healthy favourite or special snacks that you want your child to have we are happy to share this too in addition to our meals.

Our food and drink provision will be in line with recommendations made by the Food Standard Agency.
 
Before starting at Little Acorns we will gather any relevant information about your child with regards to special dietary needs, health needs, food allergies, likes and dislikes, and religious or faith rules.
 
If you do need to provide food we will store it appropriately and safely.
 
 We would ask that you do not include sweets, chocolate or peanuts in any packed lunch or snacks for health, fairness and allergy reasons.

Age appropriate cutlery, plates, bowls and cups are available and any cultural traditions will be respected and celebrated. 
 
Fresh drinking water will be available all the time, indoors and outdoors and children will be encouraged to take drinks regularly. 

We will ensure that mealtimes are a shared and social time, wherever we are eating. We have tables outside and indoors. Meal times are a special time and children are encouraged to talk, listen well, show good manners, respect and kindness towards each other. This is modelled by the adults sitting alongside the children. 

We display a list of allergens in our setting and prepare food in accordance with these recommendations. Our menu is suggested, however it is subject to adaptations where necessary. This advice applies when we are eating outside on trips or at other settings and this will form part of our risk assessment.

• The family pet is kept away from food preparation areas. Should he come into contact with anything to do with food preparation then we will ensure that all utensils etc. are cleaned thoroughly before use.
• Our baby changing mats are not situated near any food preparation areas.
• No soiled laundry tasks will be dealt with during food preparation. (See illness policy.) 

We follow the rules of food preparation and storage:

• Hand washing before preparing food
• Using separate chopping boards and knives for raw meats
• Washing hands after handling raw meats or eggs
• Storing raw meats below fresh food in the fridge
• Cooking and heating food thoroughly

Using a fridge thermometer

Hand washing is a key feature of the day for young children, after going to the toilet, after playing outside, after stroking the cat and before any food handling or eating. We have stories to share about hygiene and the importance of keeping clean. 
 
We also make sure that toys, play areas and utensils are cleaned.

If there is an outbreak of food poisoning affecting two or more children in the setting then Ofsted will be notified as soon as possible within the 14 day requirement period.  

Breakfast
To start the day we will provide a breakfast for those who are here. Sometimes children may have breakfast at home before arriving at Little Acorns. We will discuss this with you before you start. Breakfast provision will also impact on our ability to travel longer distances for drop offs in the morning. Breakfast is an important meal of the day and we aim for it to be a calm start. There is a range of breakfast food available and this will be provided on rotation/ preference. 

Snack a.m.
This will be a shared time when we eat some fruit or vegetables together. It will encourage social relationships and a positive attitude to fresh fruit and vegetables. We might even have a go at something new and introduce a different and exciting taste! We will drink fresh water too, or milk. Children can bring their own water bottles (only water please.) There will always be water available as part of our water station.

Lunch
This is made up of a balanced selection of child portions, such as chopped vegetables, salad pieces, a carbohydrate such as, a wrap, some bread, pitta or crackers with cheese or ham in a variety of recipes, and a yogurt or fruit. If the children have been involved in the making or baking of food, lunchtime will a good time to share our baking skills with each other. Lunchtime may be the time to collect from nursery. 

Tea
This will a balanced dinner using child sized portions. The children might be a little tired by tea time and we aim for it to be a relaxed and calm affair, with easily managed food. It will include a drink, possibly a pudding for older children. Obviously if you pick your child up earlier they won’t be staying to tea.  

Adaptations
Sometimes the children will cook their own snack / lunch, or prepare for a shared meal together with some cooking for example making pizzas, assembling a stir fry, baking some bread, making cakes or biscuits, perhaps some cheese straws, bread sticks, a variety of wraps, fruit salad or a soup. They may be involved in the shopping for the ingredients too incorporating shopping and money skills. Sometimes the food will be eaten as part of the meal, or the children might bring this home. Baking and cooking is a great way to introduce children to new flavours, textures and cultures. We will let you know if we are having a themed meal to celebrate a culture, tradition or religious festival.

Date: December 2017
 
Signed:   AOkane            Date: 30.12.17
​
Signed:   MOkane           Date: 30.12.17