Guides
How to Add More Calories to Care Home Meals
Providing nutritious meals is an important part of caring for older residents, but sometimes simply serving a balanced meal isn’t...
Providing healthy, nutritious and tasty meals for young children is an important part of running a nursery. The best nursery meals need to be appealing to children, easy to eat and simple for busy nursery kitchens to prepare in larger quantities.
From familiar favourites to introducing children to new flavours, a varied nursery menu can help encourage healthy eating habits from an early age.
These five dishes are sure to be popular with children while providing plenty of opportunities to include nutritious ingredients.
Pasta Bake: A Nursery Mealtime Favourite
Pasta bake is a classic family favourite and an excellent choice for nursery menus. Soft pasta combined with a tasty tomato sauce, vegetables and cheese makes a filling and nutritious meal that is easy for young children to eat.
There are plenty of ways to adapt pasta bake depending on your menu. Add vegetables such as peppers, courgettes, carrots or spinach, or include chicken for an additional source of protein.
It is also a great dish for nursery kitchens because it can be prepared in large batches, making it practical for easily feeding large groups of children. Different pasta shapes can also make the meal more appealing and fun for younger children.
Mild Chicken Curry: Introducing Children to New Flavours
A mild chicken curry is a great way to introduce young children to different flavours while keeping the dish gentle and suitable for developing palates.
Using a mild curry sauce with tender chicken and vegetables creates a nutritious and colourful meal that can be served with fluffy rice. Vegetables such as peas, carrots and sweetcorn can be incorporated into the dish, helping children enjoy a wider variety of foods.
For nursery kitchens, using a quality ready-made sauce can also make preparing a tasty curry much quicker and easier.
Serving mild curries at nursery can be a great way to introduce children to different cuisines and encourage them to become more adventurous with food.
Cottage Pie: A Classic Comforting Nursery Meal
Cottage pie is a familiar favourite that works particularly well on a nursery menu. Made with minced beef, vegetables and gravy, topped with creamy mashed potato, it is soft, comforting and easy for young children to eat.
It is also a great opportunity to include vegetables such as carrots, peas and onions in a dish that children already know and enjoy.
Cottage pie is ideal for preparing in larger quantities, making it a practical choice for busy nursery kitchens. It can also be adapted to suit different dietary requirements, with vegetarian versions providing an alternative to meat.
Jacket Potatoes: A Versatile Nursery Lunch
Jacket potatoes are one of the most versatile options for a nursery menu. They are simple to prepare and can be served with a variety of nutritious fillings, giving children plenty of choice.
Popular toppings could include:
- Baked beans
- Grated cheese
- Tuna and sweetcorn
- BBQ chicken
- Vegetarian chilli or bolognese
Jacket potatoes are also a useful way to introduce different ingredients to children. Offering a selection of toppings allows children to try new foods while still having familiar options available.
With a filling such as beans, tuna or chicken alongside vegetables such as peppers and cucumber, jacket potatoes can provide a nutritious and satisfying nursery lunch.
Casserole: A Nutritious One-Pot Nursery Meal
A warming casserole is another excellent option for nursery kitchens. Whether made with chicken, beef or vegetarian alternatives, casseroles are a great way to create a nutritious meal using a variety of ingredients.
Soft-cooked meat and vegetables make casseroles easy for younger children to eat, while ingredients such as carrots, peas, potatoes and other seasonal vegetables can help add important nutrients and variety to the menu.
Casseroles are also ideal for batch cooking, helping nursery kitchens prepare meals efficiently while making the most of their ingredients.
For a nursery looking to introduce children to different vegetables, a colourful casserole can be a simple and tasty way to do it.
Choosing the Best Meals for Nursery Menus
The most successful nursery meals combine nutrition, variety and familiar flavours. Meals should be suitable for young children, easy to eat and practical for busy nursery kitchens to prepare in larger quantities.
Pasta bake, mild chicken curry, cottage pie, jacket potatoes and casseroles are all versatile dishes that can be adapted with different ingredients to create varied and nutritious nursery menus.
Introducing children to a wide range of flavours and ingredients from an early age can help encourage positive attitudes towards food and healthy eating.
If you’re looking for quality ingredients for your nursery kitchen, Trevors Foodservice supplies a wide range of fresh, chilled, frozen and ambient products to nurseries and education customers across the North West.
