At Millie’s House, we know that good nutrition is the cornerstone of healthy growth, learning and wellbeing in the early years. What children eat in their first few years supports physical and brain development, helps establish lifelong eating habits, and ensures they have the energy they need to explore, play and learn.
Balanced and Nutritious Meals
We provide home-cooked meals prepared by our chefs fresh onsite each day, in line with the nutritional guidance set out by the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory requirement, which requires meals to be healthy, balanced and nutritious.
This means we prioritise:
- Variety – we offer food from the 4 main food groups including starchy carbohydrates, colourful fruit and vegetables, lean proteins and dairy (or alternatives)
- Balanced meals and snacks – to provide the right nutrients for your child’s growth and activity levels
- Healthy drinks – such as water and milk, no sugary drinks
- Fun with food – introducing different textures, flavours and colours to encourage exploration
Healthy Eating at Millie’s House
We take a positive approach to food and mealtimes:
- Thoughtful menu planning
Our seasonal menus are developed by our in-house chefs, to include a wide range of nutrients and appeal to young palates. We avoid adding salt, sugar and highly processed food and run our menus on a three-week rotation to ensure variety. - Age-appropriate portions
Children’s appetites vary day to day. We serve portions that are just right for little tummies and encourage children to listen to their own hunger and fullness cues. - Positive mealtime experiences
We create special mealtime and snack experiences where all children sit together to enjoy their food. Staff sit down with children, model good habits, and celebrate trying new foods, all of which helps to build confidence with different tastes and create a positive mealtime experience. - Respecting individual needs
We recognise that some children have allergies, intolerances, cultural diets or family choices. Our team works closely with parents to ensure every child’s nutritional needs are met safely and sensitively. Likewise, we work closely with parents on each child’s weaning journey to ensure we mirror how they are eating at home to provide consistency between nursery and family life.
You can view a sample weekly menu on the nutrition page of our website here. For more information or a copy of our weaning menu, please contact one of our Nursery Managers.
References:
Early Years Foundation Stage nutrition