Free Healthy Nursery Meals

Lunch

A two-course lunch should comply with the following guidelines and the Southwark Council dessert policy. If the main school lunches meet these guidelines then a good option would be to serve smaller portions in the nursery class.

Main course guidelines

Over a week’s menu there should be:

• Three different starchy foods, preferably wholegrain varieties
• At least one portion of fruit or vegetables with every meal, with a variety across the week
• A portion of protein each day. This could be beans, pulses, fish, eggs or meat (red meat or poultry) to provide a variety across the week
• A meat free day once a week, using alternatives such as pulses or beans
• One portion of sustainable oily fish (salmon, sardines, pilchards) at least once every 3 weeks
• Limit fried starchy foods to a maximum of once a week

Public Health England have a range of example menus for early years settings that meet the above guidance.

Top tips for a sustainable menu

• Have fewer meat dishes
• Use sustainable fish
• Avoid processed food
• Use seasonal produce
• Base meals and snacks on locally sourced foods
• Reduce the use of dairy products
• Include more pulses, beans and lentils
• Aim for snacks to be fruit and vegetable based

Sustain have lots of information to help with making sustainable food choices

First Steps Nutrition have produced a detailed guide on healthy and sustainable diets in early years

Snacks

• Balance the most commonly served snack of fruit by serving raw vegetables several times a week
• To make fruit and vegetable snacks appealing and easy to eat cut them up and present in a way so that children can make positive choices