Food and Mealtimes
Meal Times
Food is served up to four times daily at the preschool.
Breakfast - Available upon request for children arriving 8.00-8.30
Milk, yoghurt, cereal, hard bread and cheese are available.
Morning snack at meeting – 9:30/10.00 (depending on the department)
Fruit is provided every day. On occasion the fruit is substituted with hard bread with butter.
Lunch – 11.30/12.00 (depending on the department)
Hot meal prepared by professional caterers. Meal includes for example, meat, fish or a vegetarian dish (protein), boiled potatoes, pasta, rice or bulgur (carbohydrate), Mixed salad or choice of fresh raw vegetables.
See www.sandborgen.se for lunch menus.
Philosophy
At Humpty Dumpty we aim to create a pleasant experience at mealtimes to encourage healthy eating habits. The Swedish Food Administration (Livsmedelsverket) encourages preschools to adapt their recommendations to their own specific environment (Bra måltider I förskolan 2016, s4).
Children should have access to good food to provide sufficient energy and nutrition. Children need energy to play and learn. Along with the parents/guardians, the preschool plays an important role in a child’s understanding of what good food is and what good eating habits look like. Lunchtime is therefore a pedagogical tool. We aim to create pleasant mealtimes by stimulating multiple senses and having the food presented nicely.
As early as possible, we give children the chance to serve and feed themselves. This encourages self-esteem and independence.
Feeling food with fingers is a natural sensory experience for young children. Teachers can give the children the words to describe how food changes in consistency with different ways of preparing it, how it feels in the mouth and on fingers, hands etc.
Working with the children from where they are now is important. Give them inspiration and challenges. Children can learn to like food in the right environment if it’s presented in an inviting way. By using taste bridges (giving a child something they like and then give them something they are not so sure of alongside that) we can encourage children to taste new foods without forcing them to eat. To force or manipulate children into eating food can make this an unpleasant experience for the child which can have repercussions later in life. Adults are very important role models and should eat with the children as far as possible.
Not all people can eat the same food and understanding this diversity enriches the child’s experience. Mealtimes are also an opportunity for connection with one another, cooperation, independence, training social skills, using language, math and science skills. Occasionally varying our eating environment adds another dimension to the children’s mealtime experience (like in a park, woods, museum etc.)
We aim to involve the children in creating mealtimes. Research shows that children who are involved in preparing, eating and tasting food have a more positive attitude towards it. Since we have catering, we need to find other ways to include the children in the preparation of food. Preparation of breakfast and afternoon tea are easiest for us to include the children in. Afternoon tea is important for young children as it is a large part of their energy and nutritional input. This should be nutritious and planned from the three building blocks – fruit/veg, milk/plant-based products, bread/cereal. Children who eat like this often keep these good habits into adulthood. The choice of drink should be decided according to what else is being served. Water is a good mealtime drink. Milk can also be used although is not necessary at lunch if consumed at breakfast and afternoon tea.
Baked goods, sweets, squash/cordial are not recommended as they have no nutritional value at all. These should be kept to a bare minimum.
By having food meetings with the children (Dumpty’s department) once a month, we can document the children’s ideas and wishes and include the children in the decision-making processes in the preschool (democracy).
At Humpty Dumpty we strive to:
1. Satisfy each child’s nutritional needs.
2. Provide food at regular times (morning snack, lunch, afternoon tea) and discourage in-between meal snacking.
3. Foster positive attitudes towards food and mealtimes.
4. Encourage good food habits, table manners and considerate behaviour.
5. Promote awareness of different food types and the need for a balanced diet. (Protein, carbohydrate, and fat). Condiments and accompaniments such as ketchup, gravy, jam etc. are optional. Foods high in sugar is not served in the preschool on a regular basis. They are only offered on special occasions and in limited quantities. A savoury choice should always be available at these times.
6. Promote awareness of foods from other cultures, recognise the foods associated with festivals in all our cultures.
7. Promote each child’s awareness of hygiene requirements when handling and preparing food.
8. Encourage active participation in food preparation and consideration of the qualities of healthy foods which provide good nourishment.
9. Practice environmental awareness through purchase choices, recycling, and waste reduction.
NOTE: Children with special food requirements or allergies are provided for by supplying our caterers with full and regularly updated information. Clear information regarding foods / medication is always displayed in the kitchen and reviewed regularly by staff.
Routines for Mealtimes (and the goals we are working towards achieving)
1. Children are encouraged to serve themselves (independence and self-esteem).
2. Children take small portions and are encouraged to finish the food and drink they subsequently serve themselves (responsibility for own choice, waste reduction).
3. Children are encouraged to try new foods (increased knowledge and experience of a variety of foods).
4. Choices are provided whenever possible, and the children are encouraged to take at least one of the vegetables / salad available. (Taking responsibility for own choices).
5. Children are encouraged to pass the food or drink on to their neighbour and leave enough for rest of table (consideration for others, table manners).
6. Children are encouraged to say e.g. ’thank you for my food’ before leaving the table (table manners and thankfulness).
