meals at nursery - what is 'tea' meant to be then?

[loomer]

Hello, feel a bit of a twit asking at DD's nursery... so much better to be a twit on MN!

DD does two full days at local nursery, usually has breakfast at home and then lunch at nursery, and what they call 'tea' at around 3.30pm, before I collect her at 5pm.

I'm just a bit confused as to what I should feed her when we get home. When she's home with me I give her an early lunch, and maybe a snack when she wakes up from her nap (some milk, a handful of raisins or a crumpet) and then a 'proper' meal at 5-ish.

Is this 'tea' that she has at nursery supposed to be in lieu of a full evening meal? It's normally some sandwiches, or cheese and crackers, and some fruit or fromage frais - more than I would give her at that time at home, but certainly not enough to keep her going until bedtime.

Ask the nursery. At ds' nursery, they have a snack - sandwich, raisins and fruit - at 3:30. Ds stays until 18:00 so gets a cooked dinner at 17:30. I think he is pretty much the only one there that late though!!

tea oat my nursery isnt till 5.00. they have fruit at about 3ish

tea is normally sandwiches, crumpets, bolied egg, etc..

maybe you could offer some fruit or some cereal, a bit later after nursery, that seems to be a very early tea

just sounds like a posh name for a snack

like afternoon tea

i would just give dd her usual evening meal. if she doesnt eat you could either - ask the nursery not to give her such a big snack
or
give her a smaller portion at the evening meal at home

You could always ask them to cut back on the amount they give her if you think she's not hungry enough at her usual mealtime, I guess...

i imagine lots of small children drinking tea with pointy pinkies, doillies and french fancies

my nursery gives a snack at 3.15. i find on nursery days ds is happy just to have some toast or another snacky type tea when i get him home. He defo doesnt eat a full dinner on these days so i've given up wasting it.

At nurseries they usually give the main meal at lunchtime and then a lighter meal at teatime. AT ours it might be sandwiches, or pasta bake, or scrambled eggs on toast. I used to feed my DS a proper dinner at about 6.15 when we ate but this is too much for DD so I just give her a snack at this time usually involving fruit.

Thanks for all comments. I have been offering her a pretty full meal (well, as much as I can rustle up before bathtime!) when we get home, and most of the time she eats it, so I guess it's not putting her appetite under any strain. She does love her food .

Well if she is happy with that, go with it. My main concern has always been ensuring that they don't wake up at 5 starving.

dd 20m has "tea" at nursery at about half three four oclock which is sandwiches/crumpets/bagels etc with fruit/yoghurt and I was told she may need somthing little when she gets in as well but the little piggy come sin and eats a full dinner and pudding with gusto every night - maybe she is just like her mum and likes her food