Menu

It is the Policy of the Centre to endeavour to provide for the dietary needs of all children attending our service. Anchor childcare centre operates a HACCP (Hazzard Analysis Critical Control Points) safe system of food and believes that good health and good food in the early years helps to safeguard children’s well-being. It is important that children develop healthy eating habits from a young age for both the pleasure of having a wide variety in their diets and gaining knowledge about nutrition. Meal times are treated as an opportunity for social interaction as well as laying the foundations about making healthy choices. Staff receive training in relation to healthy eating and food safety.

MENU PLANNING AND MEAL PROVISION

Anchor Childcare operates to a three-week rotating menu, developed in line with nutritional guidelines and with the input of parents, staff and children. A daily menu is displayed for parents each day and ingredients and allergen information are listed for parents. Parents will be informed immediately if their child’s eating habit varies from their normal eating pattern. 

FOOD PREPARATION & SERVING

All food served in the Centre is prepared by our centre cook who operates the kitchen to high standards of hygiene as required by HACCP.

Anchor Childcare Centre recognise that the provision of a healthy environment as well as adequate nutrition is essential to the well being of children in our care. Our staff understand that they have a duty to feed children responsibly, offering nutritionally good food and discouraging potentially harmful food. We also recognise the need for a relaxed emotional state that will aid digestion and the importance of allowing children to eat together to provide the opportunity to socialise and learn about each other.

Staff sit with children at mealtimes to socialise, encourage good eating habits and record children’s intake of food. Where developmentally appropriate, children participate in activities, which encourage knowledge of hygiene and health issues, basic nutrition, food preparation, various tastes and textures, and the food traditions of a variety of cultures.

SWEETS

In the interest of Health, Safety and best practice, under no circumstances are chewing gum, sweets, crisps etc to be allowed into the rooms or given to the children in our care. Ice-cream, fruit and rice crispy buns may be given to children for treats during parties etc. Milk and water are the only drinks to be supplied by Anchor Childcare. The following foods are prohibited in the Centre; Chewing Gum, Nuts, Crisps, Sweets, Fizzy Drinks