Page 169 - MHF-FeedingMinds-final.indd

160 5.3 Feeding Preschool Children in Childcare Settings

●● allow candles on the pudding at lunchtime for Sandwich fillings for sliced bread,
that day for the child whose birthday it is bread rolls, bagels, pitta bread or
wraps
●● allow a birthday cake to be brought in but served
with some fruit as the second course or pudding ●● Cold meat such as ham, lean salami or cold roast
of the main meal. meat with lettuce, tomato or cucumber

Packed Lunches ●● Liver pâté or liver sausage

Ideally, packed meals should include something ●● Peanut butter with mashed banana or jam
from each of the four main food groups so that
under-fives have a balanced, nutritious meal. ●● 1 tbsp drained tinned tuna with 1 tsp
Foods need to be easy for toddlers to eat and not mayonnaise and 1 tsp plain yogurt
require preparation by time-pressured staff.
●● 1 tbsp tinned sardines with a squeeze of lemon
Some ideas for children who like their foods all juice
separate are listed in Table 5.3.1. One or two items
from each food group can be put into the lunchbox. ●● 1 tbsp of smoked fish such as smoked mackerel
or smoked trout mixed with ½ tbsp of plain
For children who are happy to eat mixed foods, yogurt and ½ tbsp of mayonnaise
savoury items for a lunchbox could include:
●● Fish pâtés such as mackerel or salmon pâté
●● finger food pieces of pizza or quiche
●● small bhajis made with lentil or chick pea flour ●● Slices of smoked salmon
●● sandwiches
●● dips ●● 1 tbsp hummus mixed with ½ tbsp finely diced
●● salads. red pepper

●● Bean spreads such as black bean spread

●● Mashed avocado or guacamole or tofu

●● Grated hard cheese with sliced tomatoes

Table 5.3.1 Ideas for lunchbox foods for children who like their food separate

Food groups Food items
Group 1: Bread, rice, potatoes,
pasta and other starchy foods Bread, breadsticks, crispbreads, crackers, plain popcorn, sliced pitta bread,
Group 2: Fruit and vegetables cooked pasta pieces, plain scones

Group 3: Milk, cheese and yogurt Sticks or slices of carrot, cucumber, celery, courgette
Group 4: Meat, fish, eggs, nuts Cherry tomatoes or grapes cut in half
and beans Berries (e.g. strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, blackberries)
Slices of apple, pear, banana, peach, plum, apricot – these need to be
Fluids wrapped to stop them going brown
Orange, tangerine or clementine segments
Cubes of melon
Small packets of dried fruit

Milk to drink, cubes of cheese, pot of yogurt or fromage frais

Cold sliced meat – bought or that may have been cooked the day before
(e.g. roast chicken, turkey, lamb, beef or pork)
Ham, pepperoni, cocktail sausages or frankfurters
Fish cakes
Boiled egg – whole or quarters
Mini falafels

Water, diluted fruit juice