At The Orange Tree, mealtimes are about more than food. They are moments of connection, learning, and joy.
Sharing a meal together helps children build independence, develop healthy habits, and feel part of our nursery family.
We eat together, just like a family.
Children and staff sit around the table, share conversation, and enjoy the same food.
This family-style dining helps children feel valued and included, encourages good manners, and creates a calm, social atmosphere at every meal.
As children grow, we encourage them to help themselves, from pouring their own drinks to serving vegetables or deciding how much they'd like on their plate.
This simple approach builds:
It also teaches children to listen to their bodies and support to recognise when they're hungry or full.
Through hands-on experiences, stories, and discussion, we help children understand where food comes from and what our bodies need to stay strong and healthy.
We explore colours, textures, and food groups in playful, age-appropriate ways by turning every mealtime into a mini learning adventure!
Our nurseries regularly explore:
Children sometimes help grow herbs and vegetables in our nursery gardens, learning first-hand how food grows and how delicious it tastes when freshly picked.
All our meals, drinks, and snacks are freshly prepared on-site by our trained nursery cooks.
Menus are carefully planned to include plenty of fruit, vegetables, and balanced nutrition to ensure children have energy to play, learn, and thrive throughout the day.
We cater for allergies, dietary requirements, and cultural needs to ensure every child enjoys safe, inclusive mealtimes.
To promote healthy eating, we sometimes swap desserts for savoury starters such as vegetable sticks or cheese and biscuits.
When we do offer sweet treats, they're homemade and low in added sugar including fruit crumble or yoghurt with fresh berries.
This balance helps children discover new flavours and build positive attitudes towards food.
Above all, we want children to enjoy eating and feel excited to try new things.
By making mealtimes social, relaxed, and engaging, we lay the foundations for lifelong healthy habits and a joyful, confident approach to food.
Throughout the year, we celebrate theme days that introduce children to new cultures, cuisines, and flavours from around the world.
