Healthy Eating & Nutrition

At Grow Happy Childcare, we are committed to providing children with healthy, nutritious, and enjoyable food and drink throughout their time with us. We recognise that early childhood is a critical time for developing good eating habits, and we actively follow the government’s most recent Healthy Eating and Nutrition Guidelines for Early Years Settings to ensure our meals support children’s growth, development, and overall wellbeing.

All meals and snacks are freshly prepared with care and meet high standards for nutritional value, balance, and variety. We ensure that every dish is suitable for children’s individual dietary needs, including allergies, intolerances, cultural or religious practices, and personal preferences.

As part of our admissions process, parents are asked to complete a detailed section on dietary requirements and food preferences. This information helps us tailor our menus and ensure that each child’s health, safety, and beliefs are respected. We are proud to offer a diverse range of options — including meat and vegetarian dishes — and we use a balanced approach when preparing meals, with a focus on wholegrains, fresh fruit and vegetables, and reduced salt, sugar, and saturated fats.

Milk and fresh drinking water are available throughout the day, and we actively encourage children to stay hydrated and make healthy choices.

We believe mealtimes should be positive and social experiences. Children are never forced to eat or drink something they don’t want to, and food is never used as a reward or punishment. Instead, we gently encourage children to try new foods, explore different tastes, and develop a healthy relationship with food in a relaxed and supportive environment.

While we don’t routinely offer sweets or sugary treats, we may occasionally include small, appropriate items to celebrate special events such as birthdays, and only with prior parental consent.

At Grow Happy, we also celebrate the rich cultural diversity of our families. Food is a powerful way to introduce children to the traditions and celebrations of different communities, and we enjoy exploring global flavours through seasonal events and cultural festivals.

By combining a commitment to nutrition with a respectful, inclusive approach to mealtimes, we aim to give every child a strong foundation for lifelong healthy eating habits.