Meals

[snappy123]

Is it acceptable in the preschool room for a meal that is given at lunchtime and not eaten. To be given at snack time. As this is what happened with 3 children's meals at the nursery I was doing supply at. The meals were cooked fresh and reheated at snack time.

It depends. Child asleep when lunch was served, their portion kept back and all food hygiene procedures follow then absolutely fine. Half eaten portion sat out for a length time, absolutely not fine and a food poisoning risk.

The children was given the meal but didn't eat it 3 and 4 year old so not asleep the one child was crying saying mum going to be cross

I don’t think that’s acceptable, no. I think if the child doesn’t want to eat the meal, that is fine, no drama, i don’t think they need to be offered a substitute, but at snack time, It should move on and they should be given the same snack as everyone else.

In terms of rules, I'm not sure what they are, but as a parent, I wouldn't be bothered. It's what I often do at home with DS. If it's a meal I know he likes and doesn't eat it when first offered, I give it later when he's hungry. I can't abide food waste. I can't see any issue to be honest.

No, I'd be very unhappy about that if it was DD's nursery. She doesn't have to eat what is offered but the next meal/snack time is a fresh start.

I actually think I'd be quite happy with that or being given the option of a meal or the snack. If say, mine had a light breakfast before coming in, didn't eat lunch, was offered a bit of fruit and milk at snack time, and then didn't have another proper meal until nearly 7pm (12 hours after the last meal), they'd be pretty hungry. I'd rather they have the chance to eat a meal if they are hungry and want it. If they don't want to eat it and prefer to have the snack that everyone else is having, that's fine too.

We'd save a meal for a child arriving late after an appointment (for example) or if they were asleep. We wouldn't reoffer a meal refused by child at lunch time.