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Original poster

Nursery Meals - appalling?

383 replies

TheBlushBaby · 03/05/2017 19:06

I have been looking at nurseries and the meals provided. I plan to raise my son plant-based with white meats occasionally, and with no processed foods. I like to cook everything from scratch and can happily make extras. I make all sauces, seed loaf, and everything else I can.

Of course this works under our roof as it's how we eat, but this isn't the way for everyone.

I was very shocked reading the meal plan for the nursery. Can I send my son with packed lunch? Does their menu seem very carb heavy to anyone else? It's all cheese, breads, pastas, potatoes! Am I overthinking this?

Nursery Meals - appalling?
OP posts:
Original poster
TheBlushBaby · 03/05/2017 19:19

Thanks all, I think I'm just stepping out of my comfort zone. When I was younger our school had a salad bar, sushi, steamed veggies and so on. I am worried it might make things harder at home and he would be less inclined to eat vegetable based meals which we live on. Salads, vegetable soups, ratatouille, and so on may seem boring in comparison.

OP posts:
theclick · 03/05/2017 19:19

I was very shocked reading the meal plan for the nursery. Can I send my son with packed lunch?

The nurseries I know of won't allow this because the other kids have allergies. For what it's worth, the menu is fine.

MatildaTheCat · 03/05/2017 19:20

I plan to feed my son on...

This implies you haven't actually started feeding your ds on solids yet. So possibly they have more experience of feèding groups of children who all need nourishing, budget friendly ( yes, even if your nursery charges more than The Ritz the food budget per child will be tiny) and toddler acceptable meals that can be cooked in bulk.

It looks normal rather than appalling. And is also the sort of food served in schools and quite possibly on play dates etc. So go ahead and feed your child on freshly ground unicorn horn but expect to spend quite a bit of time feeling appalled.

Hercule · 03/05/2017 19:21

What about when he's older and goes to friends' houses for tea? Or to birthday parties?

You'll need to be ready to deal with the lure of more 'exciting' food then.

insancerre · 03/05/2017 19:21

It's a good menu for children
Children need carbs and fat
They shouldn't have a restricted diet

FlossyMooToo · 03/05/2017 19:21

Christ my school had toast and an endless supply of chips!!! Blush

Willowtree7 · 03/05/2017 19:22

I think there is quite a lot of rubbish on that menu. I don't understand the need for sweet deserts? I also wonder if it's white bread & pasta?

Trifleorbust · 03/05/2017 19:22

They have to serve things most kids will eat.

TheRealPooTroll · 03/05/2017 19:22

Surely if you are giving a young child things like salads and soups you would offer some sort of carb alongside? Otherwise they are going to be struggling for calories. Low carb is not recommended for young, growing children so no nursery is going to offer a low carb menu.

Coloursthatweremyjoy · 03/05/2017 19:24

It's not a hideous menu, fairly standard. The vegetarian options are unimaginative though. You could ask about sending him with a packed lunch but I suppose it depends how many meals he'll be having each day and their ability to store stuff.

Ito not actually that carb heavy really. Wait until primary school especially where they are allowed to serve themselves. Pizza, potatoes and a roll anyone?

I'd show more interest in how they cook if I were you. I have seen some shocking cooking in educational settings. I didn't think it was possible to render shop bought fish fingers inedible...I was wrong.

PatriciaHolm · 03/05/2017 19:25

It's fine, and it's one meal a day. It's an OK mix of carbs for growing children.

apotheke · 03/05/2017 19:26

It looks really normal. In fact the good side of normal for a busy daycare setting.

If you feel like this you perhaps need to rethink using nurseries at all.

And salad bar/sushi? In a nursery setting? I can only imagine this being possible in a secondary cafeteria. And as someone who spends a lot of time in secondary cafeterias, pizza/pasta/sandwiches are about 99% more popular. The salad pots wilt on the shelves.

It's great that you are so aware of good nutrition for your DC. Nursery is just their lunch and maybe afternoon tea, plan around the meal plans and complement with veg heavy dinners at home?

deadringer · 03/05/2017 19:29

I think it sounds nice actually.
'Salads, vegetable soup, rataouille and so on may seem boring in comparison.'
They do a bit to be honest.

MongerTruffle · 03/05/2017 19:29

Did you expect them to serve steamed salmon and broccoli? They have to give what kids will eat.

QueenDork · 03/05/2017 19:31

There's tons of quorn on there. One week there's 4 days of quorn pieces and there's a chicken meal marked as vegetarian. I presume it's an error but seems a bit careless. What would they do if the child doesn't like Quorn / is allergic to it? Do they serve vegetables with the meals? I wouldn't be impressed OP although I have certainly seen worse and I'd imagine they are choosing bland stodgy meals in hopes that kids are less likely to refuse them than something a bit more varied.

ToffeeAppleDragon · 03/05/2017 19:31

What is magic pasta? Confused

apotheke · 03/05/2017 19:31

And unless you want to make your child the 'weird kid' come Reception, I would heartily recommend occasional exposure to the horrors of foods such as chips, pizza, fish fingers/nuggets - if not as a meal at home at least make sure they are aware of them. Soft play parties mostly involve a combination of the above, totally sans veg! Veggie/halal diets can usually be accommodated round these parts (with pizza/chips!) but that's about as fancy as it gets!

Catsize · 03/05/2017 19:31

Appalling?! Really?!

You seem to have led a very sheltered life with your salad and sushi bar at your school.

Clearly things are improving...

LauraPalmersBodybag · 03/05/2017 19:32

Agree with the pp who say that a plant based diet is very healthy for adults, but not actually appropriate for small children. They need plenty of carbs, they're growing.

Great to provide a decent variety of veg....though if you're yet to wean your child you might be surprised at how much they reject...right now I'm grateful if my 15m old eats peas and carrots. I think it's a decent menu, I'd take issue with turkey twizzlers and frozen processed stuff, but your menu really does look fine. Have you looked at the recommendations for portions, diet etc?

QueenDork · 03/05/2017 19:32

"Did you expect them to serve steamed salmon and broccoli? They have to give what kids will eat."

But many kids will eat those things, if they're given them regularly. (allowing for SN and individual tastes, obviously). I have one kid who's pretty bloody fussy and he eats broccoli.

luckylucky24 · 03/05/2017 19:33

I think that is fine. I was looking at school dinners for when my son starts reception and they have chips for lunch 2 days a week.
The menu is basically stew on Monday/Thursday, pizza and chips/sausage and mash on Tuesdays, Curry Wednesdays and Fish and chip Fridays. Only alternative is jacket potato.

BumWad · 03/05/2017 19:34

Your school had a sushi bar? 🤔🤣

SunshineDeLaSoul · 03/05/2017 19:34

Nah, it's just you.

AgentOprah · 03/05/2017 19:34

Nursery food tends to be as cheap as possible to be honest, its hard to make a profit in childcare. Even where the menu looks great its all going to be cheap/value ingredients (unless its an expensive nursery whose USP is organic blah blah food).

Gileswithachainsaw · 03/05/2017 19:36

Well the vege option is crap.quorn all the time.

There's is rather slot of processed stuff. Mince pizza etc and the stuff that isn't due to lack of seasoning permitted will be pretty rank tbh

Fish and rice and spring onion?

That is not a meal you want salt free Grin

Could be worse though