Useful Links and Tips

Details of the governments guidelines for packing a healthy lunchbox

Please find below details of the Government’s guide to packing a healthy lunch box. One of the healthy suggestions included in this guide is to provide your child with nuts in their lunchbox, however please note that it is a policy of our pre-school to NOT permit any nut produce, including peanut butter and Nutella due to any possible nut allergies. Just a further mention about the importance of halving grapes lengthways when these are included in lunch boxes. If left whole, grapes are a severe choking hazard to children. Lastly, please remember to bring in a bottle (labelled clearly with your child’s name) filled with water every session enabling them to drink whenever necessary. Government packed lunch advice The UK government produced packed lunch guidance to support the implementation of new school food standards for school lunches and ensure that all children benefit from eating quality food during the school day.

The guidelines are:

* One portion of fruit and one portion of vegetable or salad every day to be included in packed lunches

* Meat, fish or another source of non-dairy protein should be included every day. Non dairy sources of protein include lentils, kidney beans, chickpeas, hummus, and falafel

*An oily fish, such as salmon, should be included at least once every three weeks

*A starchy food, such as bread or pasta, rice, couscous, noodles, potatoes or other cereals, should be included every day

*A dairy food, such as semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, cheese, yoghurt, fromage frais or custard should be included every day

* Free, fresh drinking water should be available at all times

*Include only water, still or sparkling, fruit juice, semi-skimmed or skimmed milk, yoghurt or milk drinks and smoothies

* Snacks such as crisps should not be included. Instead, include nuts, seeds, vegetables and fruit (with no added salt, sugar or fat). Savoury crackers or breadsticks served with fruit, vegetables or dairy food are also a good choice

*  Confectionery such as chocolate bars, chocolate-coated biscuits and sweets should not be included. Cakes and biscuits are allowed but these should be part of a balanced meal

* Meat products such as sausage rolls, individual pies corned meat and sausages / chipolatas should be included only occasionally

* Please do not give your child and foods containing nuts example peanut butter or Nutela

Click link to downloadable guide https://www.foundationyears.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/11/Healthy-packed-lunches-for-early-years-FACT-SHEET.pdf

Click link for choking hazard information
http://doddinghurstpreschool.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/Early-Years-Choking-Hazards-Poster_FINAL-21-Sept-2021-1.pdf

We wanted to share a very useful website (https://www.eric.org.uk/Pages/Category/potty-training) it’s full of potty training information and tips from the experts to guide you through the process of getting your child out of nappies and into pants for good!

Every child is different; they learn to walk and talk at different times and they learn how to use the toilet at different times too.