At ASNS, we know that good nutrition is the cornerstone of healthy growth, learning and wellbeing in the early years. What children eat in their first few years supports physical and brain development, helps establish lifelong eating habits, and ensures they have the energy they need to explore, play and learn.
Balanced and Nutritious Meals
We provide home-cooked meals prepared by our chef Mireya fresh onsite each day, in line with the nutritional guidance set out by the UK’s Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory requirement. This means we focus on healthy, balanced, and nutritious food that keeps little bodies and minds thriving.
Our special ingredient is that we draw inspiration from the Mediterranean diet. This style of eating is naturally rich in vegetables, fruits, whole grains, healthy fats like olive oil, and lean proteins like fish and legumes. It’s been shown to support heart health, stable energy and overall wellbeing for all ages, including children!
How We Make It Child-Friendly
We’ve found that children love the colourful, tasty variety of Mediterranean-inspired foods. Here’s how we weave it into their day-to-day.
- Mediterranean-style menu highlights: We might serve dishes like veggie packed pasta with a drizzle of olive oil, grilled protein with roasted veggies, or yoghurt with fresh berries. We keep the flavours gentle and fun, so children can discover new favourites without being overwhelmed.
- Making veggies and fruits the stars: We celebrate the bright colours of Mediterranean produce. Think red peppers, juicy tomatoes, sweet oranges, and leafy greens. Children love seeing the rainbow on their plates, and we focus on eating the rainbow each week.
- Canteen as a social space: Meals at Anglo Spanish are more than just nutrition, they are a social gathering, reflecting the importance of shared mealtimes in Spanish culture. Children sit together in our canteen, learn table manners, engage in conversation, and enjoy eating as a community. Staff join in, making mealtimes a happy, positive, and educational experience.
- Family-style encouragement: Just like in Mediterranean culture, we believe that meals are a joyful time. Our staff support children to try new foods, celebrate their successes, and make every meal a positive adventure.
Respecting Individual Needs
We recognise that every child is unique and that some have allergies, intolerances, cultural or religious dietary requirements, or family preferences. Our team works closely with parents to ensure each child’s nutritional needs are met safely and sensitively. We also support families through the weaning journey, mirroring approaches uses at home wherever possible to provide consistency between nursery and family life, an important value in both UK and Spanish early years practice.
You can find more information, and a sample menu on the nutrition page of our website here.
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