Healthy Meals and Snacks in Creches: A Guide for Dublin Parents

Who provides the food?

Some creches cook meals on site, some use an external caterer and some ask parents to send food in. Each approach can work well. Ask who plans the menus, whether they follow published healthy eating guidance and how they make sure portion sizes suit different ages.

• Is food cooked on site, delivered or brought from home?
• Can I see a sample weekly menu?
• How are menus planned and reviewed?

What a balanced menu looks like

Healthy eating guidance for young children generally emphasises a variety of foods across the main food groups, plenty of vegetables and fruit, wholegrain options where suitable, and water and milk as the main drinks. Foods high in sugar, salt and fat are best kept to a minimum. A good creche menu will rotate over several weeks so children meet a wide range of foods.

Allergies and special diets

If your child has a food allergy or intolerance, tell the creche in writing and talk it through in detail. Ask how they prevent cross-contamination, how staff are trained to recognise and respond to allergic reactions, and how information is shared with every member of staff. Ask too how they cater for cultural, religious or vegetarian diets.

Mealtime routines

Positive mealtimes help children develop a healthy relationship with food. Look for staff who sit and eat with children where possible, encourage them to try foods without pressure and let them serve themselves when they are able. Ask how they handle a child who refuses food or is a very selective eater.

Babies and young toddlers

For babies, ask how the creche supports breastfeeding and bottle feeding, how expressed milk is stored and how they work with you when introducing solid foods. Food textures, choking risks and safe preparation are especially important in the baby and toddler rooms.

Water, snacks and treats

Children should have easy access to drinking water throughout the day. Snacks are a useful part of a young child's day, and ideally they are nourishing rather than sugary. Ask about the creche's policy on birthday treats and celebrations, which many services manage in a fun but sensible way.

Food safety

Creche kitchens must follow food safety requirements. You might ask how food is stored and reheated, how staff are trained in food hygiene and how they record what each child eats so you know how much your child had at lunch.

Working together on fussy eating

Many young children go through phases of refusing foods they previously enjoyed, or being wary of anything new. This is very common. Children often need to see and taste a food many times before they accept it, and they are often more willing to try new foods when they see friends eating them. Share what works at home with the creche and ask what they notice at mealtimes, so you can encourage your child in the same calm, consistent way. If you have concerns about your child's growth or eating, speak to your GP or public health nurse for advice tailored to your child.