12/02/2026
Please find below information on our updated Healthy Eating Policy.
HEALTHY EATING POLICY
A balanced diet is essential for the maintenance and protection of health, to ensure that full mental and physical potential is reached each day and to optimise growth and development. Developing a healthy diet and good eating habits early in life will lay the foundations for future health.
Stepping Stones Nursery recognises the importance of a healthy lifestyle and healthy eating habits in accordance with Health Promotion and Nutrition, (Scotland) Act 2007 and Setting the Table (Nutritional Standards and Practical Guidance for Early Learning and Childcare Providers in Scotland 2024). Healthy eating is an integral part of promoting a healthy lifestyle, the foundation for the future.
Aims:
- to make meal/snack times a pleasurable and safe experience
- to support children and their families, creating an awareness of healthy eating
- within the nursery setting, to provide opportunities and experiences to develop children’s knowledge and understanding of healthy eating
- to encourage parents to prepare healthy and nutritious packed lunches for their child
- to improve the nutritional standard of packed lunches brought from home, in-line with nursery meals
Objectives:
- working towards ensuring all staff and families embrace the policy in a positive manner
- to integrate the aims into the nursery ethos, particularly where food is provided on-site, through the children’s learning and development
- to work within the Health and Safety guidelines regarding food preparation and storage
Snack Times
A mid morning and a mid afternoon snack are offered along with a choice of fresh fruit (according to the age of the child) and is set in accordance to the guidelines Setting the Table. Milk and water is offered at meal/snack times and is available throughout nursery sessions times. All cultural and religious needs are catered for. All staff is informed regarding specific allergies – dietary needs and these are catered for appropriately. Weekly snack list is posted on our page and displayed on the information boards.
Lunchtime
The early years are a crucial time to reduce health inequalities and at Stepping Stones Nursery we promote this by offering a healthy and nutritionally balanced meal at lunchtime. We encourage parents to use this service to promote their child’s health and well being.
Hot Lunches
Hot lunches are on offer to all children and are compiled in accordance to the guidance Setting the Table. Menus are posted on our page and on all information boards within the nursery. Milk and water is provided with meals along with the offer of fresh fruit. All cultural and religious needs are catered for. All staff is informed regarding specific allergies – dietary needs and these are catered for appropriately. Meals are prepared and cooked in our kitchen by our cook. The food is served by our cook and nursery staff who encourage the children to try new dishes.
Packed Lunches and snacks
Parents can choose to provide a packed lunch for their child. Packed lunches are stored in the kitchen – parents are encouraged to provide a chilled pack to keep the food fresh as we have limited space within our refrigerated area. Waste food will be sent home to allow parents to see what their child has eaten. The nursery will only heat food from home if it is in packaging with instructions, this aligns with Food Standards Scotland. To meet the recommendations of Hungry for Success and Health Promoting Schools packed lunches should contain:
• Fruit and vegetables (dried fruit can only be given with main meals)
• Cereal-based snacks e.g. bread sticks, crackers and breakfast cereal
• Plain or unsweetened yogurts or fromage frais
• Crisps and savoury snacks that are low in fat and salt (these can only be given with main meals)
• Still plain water
• Milk (semi-skimmed is preferable)
• A portion of starchy food e.g. wholegrain roll, wholemeal bread, chapatti, pita pocket
• Individual cheese portion
• Portion of lean meat e.g. ham, chicken, beef or tuna
To meet the recommendations the following are not permitted in a child’s packed lunch. These foods should only be eaten as occasional treats. If we find them in children’s lunch boxes they will be given back to the parent for the child to eat at home. Research by the Food Standards Agency indicates that children who take a packed lunch are eating far too much saturated fat, salt and sugar in one meal.
• Confectionery, including cereal bars, sweets, chocolate bars, cakes and biscuits
• Crisps and savoury snacks that are high in fat and salt
• Both sugary soft drinks and sugar-free soft drinks e.g. fizzy juice (full sugar or diet versions) and fruit flavoured drinks. Also flavoured milk or smoothies
• We are a nut free setting, please do not provide anything that contains nuts
Birthday Cakes Treats
• We are happy for parents to bring in a plain sponge cake to celebrate their child’s birthday at nursery, these shall not be permitted to be eaten in nursery but given home with children at the end of the day. We respectfully ask that the cake be a manufactures sealed box/packaging which clearly indicates all known ingredients. Unfortunately homemade cakes are not allowed.
Links to Children’s Learning
• Staff work with groups of children giving opportunities to explore flavours and textures of healthy food, through cooking activities
• Growing fruit and vegetables in the nursery garden
• Through links to stories
• Children have the opportunity to sample foods from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds
Food Hygiene
• Children are always reminded about the importance of hand washing. When working with food, children are encouraged to follow basic hygiene routines – washing hands before and after working with food. All staff have food handling qualifications.
For parent’s information stated below are the guidelines Stepping Stones Nursery follows in meeting recommendations in healthy eating.
Hungry for Success – available at:
https://education.gov.scot/media/eanpi1ns/hungryforsuccess.pdf
Setting the Table (Nutritional Standards and Practical Guidance for Early Learning and Childcare Providers in Scotland 2024) – available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/setting-table-guidance/documents/
Scottish Government (2007) Schools (Health Promotion and Nutrition) (Scotland) Act 2007 – available at: https://www.gov.scot/publications/schools-health-promotion-nutrition-scotland-act-health-promotion-guidance-local/documents/
Scottish Government guidance to support local authorities, schools and managers of grant-aided schools to ensure that all schools promote good health.
