Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Nursery food

50 replies

becca2906 · 03/02/2022 18:39

My (almost) two year old son returned from his first day at nursery today and I was appalled to discover that for his meals they gave him bread and butter as he “tried but didn’t like” the food on offer.
Am I being unreasonable by being so upset? Surely they could give him a sandwich and some fruit?! The fees are just about affordable so makes it worse he’s not even getting three meals.

OP posts:
Imsittinginthekitchensink · 03/02/2022 18:43

Do you give him an alternative meal if he doesn't like what you made? He is unlikely to always like what is on the menu but they aren't cooking to order, so he eats it or has plan (B and) B.

Original poster
becca2906 · 03/02/2022 18:47

No I don’t give him an alternative, he eventually eats it at home. I don’t expect he will like everything, but I think b+b is far too basic and for both lunch and dinner I don’t think is enough.

OP posts:
OnceuponaRainbow18 · 03/02/2022 18:48

It’s day 1, maybe he was nervous and didn’t want to eat much. Also with so many kids they can’t cater to all of the kids wanting something different.

Did he have fun?

Overthebow · 03/02/2022 18:49

The cook can’t just make alternatives for every meal though. At ours they eat the food offered or they don’t. There’s always dessert and they get snacks too so never go hungry if there’s a meal they don’t like.

Original poster
becca2906 · 03/02/2022 18:50

He got through two sets of clothes playing!
I just think b+b isn’t a very good alternative for BOTH meals…

OP posts:
Scubalubs87 · 03/02/2022 18:50

In the nurseries I have experience of, they wouldn't offer any alternative if the child didn't eat the meal. They offer set meals and that's it. I've know some to make sure that chn fill up at meals they know they'll eat - a friend's son always refused dinner but that make sure he'd had a decent breakfast and snack for example.

Original poster
becca2906 · 03/02/2022 18:51

He was only given b+b, no dessert or snack. In his previous nursery he was.

OP posts:
Dizzyhedgehog · 03/02/2022 18:51

Did he want fruit?
I wouldn't consider bread and butter to be bad. It's food. You can give him something else at home for now. Give him some time to settle in. He might be more inclined to try the food after a while. I'd be more upset if they hadn't offered him anything.

moita · 03/02/2022 18:52

My son's does the same. I was really holly they offered that! It means they are given the choice of trying the main meal but I see the bread and butter as back-up so they aren't starving.

Hopefully your DS will get more adventurous

SickAndTiredAgain · 03/02/2022 18:52

@Overthebow

The cook can’t just make alternatives for every meal though. At ours they eat the food offered or they don’t. There’s always dessert and they get snacks too so never go hungry if there’s a meal they don’t like.
I was going to say, at ours I don’t think they offer an alternative. There’s pudding, and a fruit or veg snack mid afternoon, plus a small tea at around 4:30/5pm that I know they give larger portions of if a child didn’t eat at lunch.
moita · 03/02/2022 18:52

Happy not holly

Seaglass87 · 03/02/2022 18:52

This is normal for a lot of nurseries. My little girl is fussy and she will be given a bowl of cereal sometimes. They probably don't want to make something else for him to reject so go simple. I don't think it's a big deal.

Scubalubs87 · 03/02/2022 18:54

Changing clothes is pretty standard too! My youngest came home with paint all over the bottom of her vest last week because she'd decided to bum shuffle through the painting they were doing. The photos evidenced that she was having the time of her life - pure glee! They do get messy and there will be meals they don't eat.

moita · 03/02/2022 18:54

First child OP?

SickAndTiredAgain · 03/02/2022 18:55

He got through two sets of clothes playing!

So?

mrsed1987 · 03/02/2022 18:56

Bit strange they just offered for both meals. My sons nursery does the following:

Toast for breakfast if your there early enough
Fruit for mid morning snack
Something like curry, sausages, beef casserole, spag bol for lunch.
Snack usually crackers or similar
Sandwich, wrap or crumpets for tea

CreamFirstThenJamOnTop · 03/02/2022 18:56

If my dc won’t eat their meal at home they’ll only get toast or weetabix as an alternative to stop them going hungry. I think it’s fine and means they’re usually more likely to eat the meal on offer.

I’d be fine with nursery doing the same / similar.

I expect he’ll settle in and get used to the meals. They can’t make a child eat something and they’ve offered something else. They can’t make alternatives to order.

ChittyBangs · 03/02/2022 18:56

No alternative at my sons nursery.
He eats it or he doesn't.

Breakfast
Snack
Lunch and pudding
High tea

My son refused meals when he started and I would be happy with them offering bread and butter tbh so I knew he ate something if he didn't want what was offered.

mynameiscalypso · 03/02/2022 18:57

Ours wouldn't give an alternative at all and I wouldn't expect them too.

arethereanyleftatall · 03/02/2022 18:57

What was the food offered?

Regardless, Yabu I'm afraid, it isn't a restaurant. What would you have liked in his sandwich? There's not a whole lot of nutritional difference between bread and butter and many sandwiches.

Chocomelon · 03/02/2022 18:58

My LO isn't in nursery yet so I don't know what the norm is but it seems it would be a lot of work up make sandwiches as well the main meal

Because giving one child a sandwich could mean they / the others expect that any time they don't feel like eating the days meal

Hugasauras · 03/02/2022 18:58

Two sets of clothes is sign of a good day Grin

I don't know, given they don't know what he will and won't eat, maybe they just wanted to ensure he had something so gave him something plain and safe for his first day. Odd no snacks or dessert though! DD has morning snack and afternoon snack and then if she's still in at 5 they get a late snack.

Nursery often makes fussy eaters a lot less fussy (although that often doesn't translate to home!). Seeing their peers eating other foods makes them more inclined to join in.

Original poster
becca2906 · 03/02/2022 19:00

Which I meant as he had fun!

OP posts:
YeOldePotato · 03/02/2022 19:02

They can't be expected to have a standby meal just in case

Original poster
becca2906 · 03/02/2022 19:04

Appreciate all the responses, think I was a bit shocked as it’s so different to his previous nursery.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread