Food and lunches

Diet and breakfast

A good diet is essential to the well-being of children and has a direct impact on their learning. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day so please ensure that your child has a good breakfast at home before they start their day.

Packed snack and water bottles

A healthy snack and water should be sent in for all children in labelled tupperware. Snack is not a substitute for breakfast, it is simply an energy boost since children naturally use a lot of energy throughout the work cycle and it is important to have a healthy nutritious snack available if they require it.

Allergies and sensitivities

The setting has been designated as a nut free zone in all areas. There are children who attend who have nut allergies and for this reason we ask all parents to ensure that no nuts are sent into the setting.

Packed lunch for Preschool children staying full day

Parents are asked to bring a packed lunch for their children if they are staying full days i.e., morning and afternoon sessions. Packed lunches should be healthy and nutritious to aid concentration for learning. Please avoid meals which are processed, or which contain high sugar or fat content as these foods will have a negative impact on your child's concentration and learning. Children who do eat food with high sugar content often have difficulties concentrating in the afternoon sessions. Children will be required to finish their main meal so please send in a reasonable portion, which can be finished with ease. Children who finish their main meal are given some time to eat an additional item such as fruit or yogurt. If a child's packed lunch is unsuitable or the portions too large or small a post-it note will be left in the lunch box.

Please do read this carefully and make amendments to your child's lunch. During lunch time, staff supervise the children carefully following a thorough procedure to make sure that correct table manners and Islamic etiquettes for eating are adhered to.

What children are not permitted to bring

Children are not permitted to bring: Nuts, Sugary drinks, Sweets, Chocolate, Crisps, Processed foods such as processed cheese. Please ensure that there are no logos or cartoon characters on lunch boxes, cups or utensils.

Possible ideas for a healthy lunch box

Possible Ideas for a Healthy Lunch Box: Pasta Bakes, Salad, Fruit Yoghurt, Quiche, Pies, Brown Rice, Rice Cakes, Cucumber, Tuna and Sweetcorn Salad, Pasta, Pitta, Cherry Tomatoes, Breadsticks, Carrot-Celery-Cucumber Sticks, Cheese, Crackers, Cream Cheese, Wholemeal Sandwiches, wraps, pitta, Fruit Salad, Hummus, Healthy Dips - Guacamole, Salsa, Yoghurt, Fruit Puree, Seeds.

Food safety and allergies

Food safety and hygiene is an important aspect of the Alamiyah Montessori. The setting has a trained and qualified Food Safety and Hygiene Officer to maintain standards of cleanliness and food safety. Children are shown routines for washing their hands and cleaning up after themselves. Staff ensure that procedures set out in our Health and Safety policy are adhered to.

Before children start the setting, we take information on allergies and dietary requirements for them and any food that is provided is within these limitations. Allergies and dietary requirements are recorded and put up on the kitchen wall so that all staff members are aware of any foods to avoid in the setting.

The designated Food Safety Officer is Ms Nazan Said

Treats for other children to share on special occasions

Treats can be brought in for children however due to dietary reasons they cannot be handed out during sessions. It should be at the discretion of the parents whether the treat is suitable for their child. Therefore, treats can only be handed out with the following conditions:

• Prior permission from Management (if permission is granted the setting may check for allergens)

• Treats should be handed out at collection time at the door/gate

• The child or parent must hand them out

• Treats must be handed out to the parent first so that they can decide on the suitability of the treat