🌿At Canopy, providing nutritious, balanced meals is an integral part of our curriculum and woven into everyday practice. We are committed to going above and beyond to instil positive eating habits from a very early age.
🍽️Encouraging a Love of Food
We are in a unique position to encourage young children to explore a wide variety of foods, from familiar favourites to more diverse options. With many parents balancing busy work schedules, finding time to experiment with new meals can be challenging, often leading to reliance on tried-and-tested dishes. Our in-house chefs help bridge that gap by creating varied, nutritious menus designed to appeal to a broad range of tastes.
🌱 Learning Together
While some children may initially feel hesitant about trying new foods, they quickly grow in confidence – especially as they observe and learn from their peers. Over time, this shared experience helps them become more open to exploring different tastes and textures.
👩🍳 Hands-On Food Experiences
Cooking activities are also a regular feature across our settings, further enriching children’s understanding of food and encouraging hands-on participation. At mealtimes, staff sit alongside the children, engaging them in conversations about what they are eating, why it is good for them, and how it supports their health and wellbeing.
🧠 Building Knowledge for Life
We have continued to develop this area of learning by introducing discussions around food groups, healthy diets, and the use of our senses. Children are building their knowledge and are often eager to share what they have learned, including how different foods support their growth and development.
🏡 Extending Learning Beyond the Nursery
Learning doesn’t stop within our settings. We extend this into the home through food challenge sheets, with certificates awarded to children who take part. When parents reinforce these experiences at home, it helps to embed healthy, varied eating habits more effectively and creates a consistent approach to nutrition.
❤️ Supporting Every Child
Parents of particularly fussy eaters are not alone. By speaking with us about any challenges, we can work together to support each child’s individual needs.
For further support and guidance on healthy eating, we recommend exploring the HENRY Programme. Please follow the link below to find out more.
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