Safe sleeping at Caterpillars
Good food and nutrition – healthy eating at Caterpillars
Healthy Lunchboxes for Happy Learners
At our setting, we encourage children to enjoy healthy, balanced lunches that provide them with the energy they need to learn, play and grow. In line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), we aim to promote healthy lifestyles and help children develop positive attitudes towards food from an early age.
When preparing your child’s lunchbox, please try to include a variety of healthy foods from different food groups. Offering a colourful selection of fruit, vegetables, proteins, dairy and carbohydrates not only provides important nutrients but also makes lunchtime more interesting and enjoyable.
Children are naturally curious, and repeated exposure to new foods helps build confidence and encourages them to become more adventurous eaters. Including a small portion of something familiar alongside a new food can be a great way to introduce different tastes and textures without creating pressure. Even if a child chooses not to eat a new item the first few times, seeing it regularly can help them become more willing to try it in the future.
Some ideas for a balanced and varied lunchbox include:
* Sandwiches, wraps, pasta or rice salads.
* Cheese, cooked chicken, eggs or hummus for protein.
* A selection of fresh fruit and crunchy vegetables.
* Yogurt or another dairy option.
* Healthy snacks such as oatcakes, breadsticks or rice cakes.
We kindly ask that lunchboxes avoid sweets, chocolate, fizzy drinks and foods high in sugar, salt or fat, as these can affect children’s concentration, energy levels and overall wellbeing.
By working together, we can help children develop healthy eating habits, enjoy a wider range of foods and build positive relationships with food that will benefit them throughout their lives.
Thank you for your continued support in helping us promote healthy choices and happy, confident eaters.
- Download healthy eating at Caterpillars
- Healthy eating for kids
- My fussy eater
- Chunky chocolate chip oat cookies
- Easy school lunchbox ideas
Being healthy
- Eat breakfast every day
- Eat plenty of fruit and vegetables
- Choose snacks that will provide nutrients to compliment what is eaten during meals
- Drink plenty of fluids
- Be physically active
- Brush teeth twice a day and visit your dentist regularly
Links
- www.nutrition.org.uk
- www.cwt.org.uk
- https://bigbrushclub.co.uk/
The importance of mealtimes
Ideally children should look forward and get excited about family mealtimes. They should be encouraged, not forced, to try and eat a variety of foods. Adults need to be positive role models and encourage to eat new foods.
Ideas for healthy snacks
- Cut fruit into bitesize chunks, slices of apple, pear, satsumas, bananas, kiwi, melon, strawberries, peaches, and plums.
- Raw vegetables, carrot, pepper, cucumber, tomatoes, courgetti and broccoli.
- Toast, bagels, rolls, wraps, pitta breads, mini sandwiches with marmite, cheese, tuna, meat slice and hummus.
- Bread slice and soft cheese dip
- Homemade pizza slices
- Oatcakes, rice cakes, crispbread with toppings such as mashes avocado or cream cheese
- Yoghurt, fromage frais with fruit
- English muffins, plain or cheese scones, potato bread, crumpets, and popcorn
Every child deserves a healthy start in life.
Getting the balance right in a young child’s diet can have a positive impact for long term health.
Little Star Fish Swimming
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