Nursery group's meals given veggie seal of approval

The rating means that the vegetarian dishes are now guaranteed to contain only free-range eggs, and be free from animal meat and genetically modified organisms.

The approval also covers the other settings in Didsbury, Cheadle Royal and Knutsford.

The chefs at each of the sites prepare fresh, locally sourced produce for the children, ensuring they get at least four pieces of fruit and vegetables a day.

Kids Allowed, which has three outstanding nurseries, and won Nursery World’s Nursery Chain of the Year award in 2010, continues to serve meat and fish at all its settings.

Jennie Johnson, managing director of Kids Allowed, said, ‘We have devised our own strict rules to ensure our children get healthy nutritional meals every day.

‘We recognised the menus on our vegetarian menu needed improving, so [we] worked with the Vegetarian Society to ensure the children that don’t eat meat were also having a great food experience.’

Liz O’Neill, head of communications at the Vegetarian Society, said, ‘It’s never easy choosing childcare, but some vegetarian families have extra difficulty finding a provider who will respect their values and provide tasty, nutritious food for their little ones.

‘By meeting the strict Vegetarian Society approved criteria, Kids Allowed is offering parents the highest level of veggie reassurance in the market.’

Before it gives its approval, the charity has to carefully check product ingredients and often visits the manufacturer.

The nursery in Macclesfield was the fourth Kids Allowed nursery to open last June. The chain, which was established in 2003, also comprises two school-based after-school clubs, in Cheshire and Manchester.

• For further information email Vanessa Brown, head of corporate relations and catering services, at the Vegetarian Society vanessa@vegsoc.org