Children's Menu

All sessions at Pinocchio's include meals providing several benefits; firstly all children are sitting down to eat the same meal and so, particularly with older children, there is equality which gives them the opportunity to discuss food and enjoy it together as a social occasion; secondly you can leave your children with us in the knowledge that they will be given a healthy and nutritious meal which they will enjoy eating with their friends; and thirdly you don't have to worry about preparing snacks or packed lunches!

All meals at Pinocchio's are created with healthy local produce by our qualified chefs. Vegetarian options are available as well as alternatives should your child have any special dietary requirements. Before your child starts at the nursery you will be asked to complete a form where you will be able to detail any such dietary requirements, however if these change during your child's stay with us then you can contact the Nursery Manager in the first instance to inform us. You may be asked to supply particular ingredients for your child's special dietary requirements.

We still provide food and drink when working on the adverse weather policy. During these times our nurseries close at 4.30, therefore afternoon dinner/ snack is served at 3.30pm. The food may also be subject to change from the pre-planned monthly menu due to problems with deliveries. (Please note the nurseries implement the adverse weather policy when their nearest local school/ university is closed due to adverse weather).


Breakfast

We offer a rolling breakfast for any children who want it from 7:30am - 9:00am. Our breakfast includes;

    A selection of cereals:

  1. Rice Crispies
  2. Corn Flakes
  3. Weetabix
  4. Shreddies
  5. Hot Oats (and Ready Brek in the Baby Room)

  6. Toast

  7. Organic Milk or Water

  8. In Winter months all rooms are offered hot oats and hot milk.



Lunch (Sample)

(Sample Menu: Pre-School and Junior Rooms) Lunchtime is between 11.30 - 12.30

Day

Main

Dessert

Drink

Monday

Vegetable soup served with bread

Yoghurt

Water or Organic Milk

Tuesday

Pork stovies served with mixed vegetables

Selection of fruit

Water or Organic Milk

Wednesday

Pasta amatriciana

Yoghurt

Water or Organic Milk

Thursday

Fishcakes served with baked beans

Selection of fruit

Water or Organic Milk

Friday

Chicken curry with rice

Yoghurt

Water or Organic Milk

*All chefs are trained not to order food with E numbers, we buy foods with natural colours and natural flavourings. We never add salt when cooking. We support local business and most of our food is from the local community.


Lunch Menu

Each nursery has guidelines as to what their monthly menu should contain. The chefs can choose their own recipes and dishes, and are trained to ask the children on a daily basis how they have enjoyed the meals, and then adapt their menu around their children's meal preferences and specific allergies in each nursery.

Summer menu guidelines: Minimum of 2 meat, 1 fish, 1 soup and 1 pasta dish per week. In the month they must have 2 hot and 2 cold pasta dishes, 2 cold salads, and 2 baked potatoes.

Winter menu guidelines: Minimum of 2 meat, 1 fish, 1 soup and 1 hot pasta dish per week. Instead of a cold salad the chef has the option of changing it to any other hot dish and still plan for 2 baked potatoes in the month.

Our children's survey was done at each nursery in October 2010.

1. The chefs are planning a recipe book. All sales will go to the Sick Children's Hospital. Each nursery will plan a favourite week's recipes at their centre. (Please note: recipe books of favourite children menus now on sale, all sales go to Sick kids friends foundation.)

2. Every month we will plan a "Theme week" so that children can try new dishes from around the world.

3. Every other week in the month, there will be a children choice on the menu. The chefs daily monitor the feedback as ask children if they would like to see the dish on the menu next month. In the Pre school room, the chefs meet with the children and have a "Thumbs up or down" survey to what they enjoyed.


Light Snack

Light snack is at 2pm
All children are offered a drink of milk or water and a biscuit.


Dinner

(Children under 2 years)Dinner is served at 4pm.

For the two youngest playrooms in each nursery the afternoon meal is a similar selection to the lunch time menu: the chefs plan a varied menu for dinner. It is substantial enough to be considered as dinner. This means that you shouldn't need to worry about preparing dinner for your very young children before bed time! Milk and a light snack should be fine.


Afternoon Snack (Sample)

(Children over 2 years)


Afternoon snack for over 2 years rooms is served at 4pm.
Afternoon snack for the pre-school rooms are a rolling snack from 3.30-4.30pm, so the children have the choice when to finish there play and decide to eat. All children are monitored so they do have the main afternoon snack. Details of what they have eaten are provided at the end of each day. This is a light snack, children would still be expected to eat with the family in the evening. In the wintertime we offer several hot snacks.

Children would get a savoury, fruit/salad and 1 baking/biscuit. An example of some of the snacks on offer would be:

Savoury: sandwiches, toasties, quequalida, fajitas, pitta bread, bagels, quiche, & volouvants (with fillings of cream cheese, cheese, ham, turkey or tuna), cream crackers with cheese, homemade pizza, sausage rolls. Beans or spaghetti with toast.

Fruit Selection: apples, oranges, bananas, grapes, melon, strawberries, pears, pineapples, tomatoes, carrots, celery, cucumber and peppers. This varies depending on seasonal fruits and themed tasting events.

Baking: The children bake every day in the nursery. Children can help bake this and then have for snack: Bread, cheese straws, flapjacks, sponge cake, banana or fruit loaf, oat & raisins cookies, carrot cupcakes, ginger snaps, scones: Fruit/ cheese/ cinnamon or spice, short bread, pancakes , chocolate cripes , chocolate chip cookie (We limit the items made with coco and use chocolate that has no E numbers).

Organic Milk or Water





Trips

The nursery organises two main trips for children over 3 years per year, on these days a packed lunch will be provided by the nursery.


Parties

The nursery organises Easter, Halloween, and Christmas parties, where we do offer juice, crisps, jelly, and sweets as an extra treat!