All recipes are either family recipes or tried and tested Annabel Karmel recipes.
I encourage the children to eat a healthy, balanced diet in a variety of ways. We make a point of visiting to our local fruit and veg shop. I point out different fruit and vegetables and the children are allowed to make their own choices. On the way home we discuss their choices and decide if they are healthy. We consider the lack of packaging and how they were grown/made and where they come from. We may watch a programme about farming to further support our learning about where our food comes from. We may also make a trip to the local supermarket and track down some unhealthy food! During mealtimes we discuss whether the food they are eating is healthy or not, and why we need to eat healthily. At home we look at books about food and see which ones they can identify. I let the children help me prepare a healthy salad, a vegetable soup or a fruit salad. We name the fruit and vegetables and discuss their likes and dislikes.
Breakfast (£1.50) 8.30-9.00
Fresh fruit – seasonal fruit when available (plain yoghurt and honey can be added if required)
Cereal – Weetabix, Ready brek, porridge
Smoothie – home made
Yoghurt – small, petit filou or similar
Toast – honey, jam, marmite, peanut butter.
Snacks £1.00 (mid-morning)
Little ones use a lot of energy so they need something to keep them going between breakfast and lunch! These snacks are also good if we are out and about! Please note I always have vegetarian options too.
Fruit
Bread sticks
Milk shake
Home made cakes
Rice cakes
Frozen yoghurt
Cucumber sticks + dip
Cheese straws
Cherry tomatoes and cubes of cheese
Lunch £2.50 (times vary)
I like to offer varied lunch options and always aim to give the children a different option each day.
Cottage pie + 2 veg
Spaghetti bolognese + pasta + hidden veg
Home made chunky root veg + lentil soup + roll
Chicken stew
Fish pie + 2 veg
Chicken casserole + 2 veg
Sausages, mash + 2 veg
Macaroni cheese with bacon and salad
Jack’s favourite Chinese 5 spice chicken noodles with red peppers and courgettes.
Harry’s favourite fruity chicken + rice + broccoli (chicken, onion, garlic, ginger, coriander cooked in mild spices with creme fraiche or yogurt)
Chicken and potato pie + veg
Mid afternoon snacks £1.00 (times vary)
fruit
bread sticks
milk shake
home made cakes
cubes of cheese + cherry tomatoes + cucumber slices
hummous
cream crackers
Tea £2.00 (4.15-5.00pm)
salad bowl + ham/cheese/tuna/egg
sandwiches (as above)
scrambled eggs on wholemeal toast
baked beans on wholemeal toast
spaghetti hoops on wholemeal toast
home made vegetable or lentil soup + small roll
salad/veg sticks + dips
Pudding:
bananas + custard
Fruit crumble + creme fraiche
Stewed fruit and yoghurt
jelly + ice cream
angel delight
rice pudding
yoghurts
Your child will have access to their own cup with water in at all times, whether we are at home, in the garden or out and about. This menu is likely to change but it serves to give you an idea of the type of food I provide.
Within an area of my garden I have planned a small vegetable garden. I think this will be a great opportunity for the children to get involved in growing their own vegetables and plants. I provide trowels, spades and watering cans so the children can help plant and weed and dig and water (Seasonal!).
Through these activities the children can learn about self sufficiency, gardening skills, and hopefully benefit by eating the vegetables and fruit and herbs that we grow.