Healthy eating is on the menu at Teddies Nurseries

Wednesday, June 25, 2003

Healthy eating is on the menu at Teddies Nurseries, BUPA's UK childcare business. It has joined forces with the British Nutrition Foundation (BNF) to create the Healthy Nursery Menu Awards to recognise good food standards at Teddies' 36 nurseries, which care for about 2,000 children. Among the BNF's ten criteria for a good weekly menu for children are that dishes should vary so they are more likely to receive a range of nutrients; meals should include a good source of iron, for example, red meat; a source of vitamin C, such as orange juice, should be served with vegetarian meals to improve iron absorption; a calcium source such as fromage frais, yoghurt or cheese should be served daily for healthy bones and teeth; fresh fruit or a fruit-based dessert should be offered daily; and vegetables should be served every day. Ten Teddies Nurseries have won gold awards for satisfying at least eight of the standards, while others received silver and bronze awards. The chain said it plans to use the BNF recommendations to bring all its nurseries up to the gold standard.