Our much-loved caterer, Sam, comes in every day to prepare freshly made meals for the children.
We understand the importance of healthy bodies and minds and how vital it is to eat the right food for growth and development. Our approach to nutrition is balanced, understanding the need for the occasional treat as well as an abundance of fresh produce supporting a balanced diet. This includes fresh drinking water which is available at all times.
At snack time we offer a variety of choices such as fresh fruit and vegetables, dried fruit, bread sticks, crackers and cheese, yoghurt, rice cakes and more. We will often provide a special theme related snack and aim to vary the textures as much as possible. There are lots of opportunities for the children to prepare their own snacks, developing their independence.
Mealtimes at Duchess Nursery are a happy, social occasion when staff and children sit together to eat - assisting younger children when they need help. Older children are encouraged to be independent, serving their own food and using their cutlery to feed themselves. Staff ensure good table manners and behaviour consistently across the age ranges, role modelling and encouraging the children to say ‘Please’ and ‘Thank you’.
We gently encourage all children to try new and different foods. We work with our parents if a child struggles with eating.
Staff are aware and respect all allergies, medical and cultural differences in eating habits, ensuring similar alternatives are available for those who need it. We have a strict no-nut policy and adhere to the Food Safety (Temperature Control) Regulations 1995 and snacks are prepared by qualified staff that hold Food Hygiene Certificates. See our sample menus below.
| Winter Menu Week 1 | ||||
| Day | Breakfast 8:00-8:45am | Lunch 11:30am | Tea 3:00pm | Snack 5:30pm |
| Monday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Salmon and Broccoli Pasta Tinned Peaches Water | Homemade margarita or pepperoni pizza slices with carrot sticks Yoghurt Milk or Water | Rice cake, houmous and pepper sticks Water |
| Tuesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Minced beef stew in a tomato sauce with carrot and swede mash Melon slices Water | Jacket potato slice with baked beans and cheese, cucumbers and tomatoes. Apple Slices Milk or water | Breadsticks with fruit Water |
| Wednesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Roast chicken, roasted new potatoes, cabbage, carrots and Yorkshire pudding with gravy Banana Water | A selection of filled sandwiches with broccoli Fresh Berries Milk or Water | Ryvita crackers with soft cheese and carrots Water |
| Thursday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | All day breakfast with sausages, bacon, scrambled egg, beans and roasted tomatoes Yoghurt Water | Homemade winter vegetable soup with crusty bread Watermelon Milk or water | Yoghurt and dried apricots Water |
| Friday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Fish Fingers, mashed potato and peas Pineapple Water | Tomato and vegetable cous cous with sugar snap peas and baby corn Fruit salad Milk or Water | Ritz crackers and banana slices Water |
| Winter Menu Week 2 | ||||
| Day | Breakfast 8:00-8:45am | Lunch 11:30am | Tea 3:00pm | Snack 5:30pm |
| Monday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Spinach, sweet potato and lentil dhal with naan bread Watermelon Water | Tuna and sweetcorn pasta with pepper sticks Yoghurt Milk or Water | Lentil chips, houmous and pepper sticks Water |
| Tuesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Cottage pie with hidden veggie sauce and cabbage or curly kale Oranges Water | Tomato, lentil and basil soup with garlic bread sticks Apple slices Milk or water | Breadsticks and cheese chunks Water |
| Wednesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Creamy Thai chicken with rice Strawberries Water | Beef kofte lollypops with salad and homemade tzatziki Peaches Milk or Water | Rice cakes with Fruit Water |
| Thursday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Traditional spaghetti bolognaise with salad Yoghurt Water | Mediterranean cous cous filled roasted peppers with feta cheese. Banana Milk or water | Ryvita crackers with soft cheese and fruit Water |
| Friday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Salmon in parsley sauce with homemade chips and peas Pears Water | Pitta pizzas with peppers and corn on the cob Melon smiles Milk or Water | Yoghurt and dried apricots Water |
| Winter Menu Week 3 | ||||
| Day | Breakfast 8:00-8:45am | Lunch 11:30am | Tea 3:00pm | Snack 5:30pm |
| Monday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Sweet potato Mac and Cheese with green beans Yoghurt Water | Filled wraps with carrot and cucumber sticks Grapes Milk or Water | Lentil chips, houmous and pepper sticks Water |
| Tuesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Chicken curry with chick peas, rice and poppadoms Apple slices Water | Homemade beans on toast Peaches Milk or water | Ryvita crackers with cream cheese and fruit Water |
| Wednesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Gammon, roasted new potatoes, stuffing, carrots and cauliflower Watermelon Water | Smoked salmon and scrambled egg with toasted English muffins Yoghurt Milk or Water | Ritz crackers, cheese chunks and raisins Water |
| Thursday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Smoked haddock and leek risotto with spinach Pears Water | Cheese and bacon turnover with homemade coleslaw Oranges Milk or water | Yoghurt and dried apricots Water |
| Friday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Smoky meatball tagliatelle Melon smiles Water | Homemade potato and leek soup with croutons and crispy bacon Banana Milk or Water | Rice cakes and banana slices Water |
| Winter Menu Week 4 | ||||
| Day | Breakfast 8:00-8:45am | Lunch 11:30am | Tea 3:00pm | Snack 5:30pm |
| Monday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Cheeseburger pasta with salad Tinned Peaches Water | Filled sandwiches with cheese or ham, baby corn and sugar snap peas Yoghurt Milk or Water | Rice cake, houmous and pepper sticks Water |
| Tuesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Chicken casserole with dumplings, carrots and green beans Melon slices Water | Indian quinoa curry with chick peas and butternut squash Apple Slices Milk or water | Breadsticks with fruit Water |
| Wednesday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Sausage, bean and potato hotpot with cauliflower and broccoli Banana Water | Pitta slices with cold meats, boiled egg, Houmous, veg sticks and apple sticks Fresh Berries Milk or Water | Ryvita crackers with soft cheese and carrots Water |
| Thursday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Morrocan pork with cous cous Yoghurt Water | Jacket potato slices with tuna and sweetcorn or egg mayo and green beans Watermelon Milk or water | Yoghurt and dried apricots Water |
| Friday | A choice of cereals Fresh fruit and or Natural/Greek Yoghurt Milk or water | Mediterranean cod in tomato and red pepper sauce with rice and corn on the cob Pineapple Water | Homemade cheese scones with carrot and coriander soup Fruit salad Milk or Water | Ritz crackers and banana slices Water |