a healthy diet

"Mealtimes are a special time of day and should be an enjoyable social occasion" Annabel Karmel MBE

The food our children eat affects every aspect of their lives: their mood, behaviour, growth, even their ability to concentrate. Good nutrition is vital to a child's health from building strong bones and teeth to the healthy development of internal organs and general growth.

fresh produce, prepared on-site

Our stand-alone nurseries, those not attached to David Lloyd Leisure, employ fully-trained chefs to offer a menu that contains all the necessary nutritional requirements your child needs, prepared on the premises, using fresh produce wherever possible.

safe and wholesome, from 'gate to plate'

Children given high sugar content foods can become less focused and experience mood swings. When they are given a balanced diet they become more eager to learn, appear happier and sleep better. We limit the sugar content in all our recipes and do not add salt to any of our meals. We are committed to using quality products from our sole food supplier that are low in 'E' numbers, salt and sugar. The food can be traced from 'gate to plate'; we know where and how the ingredients are sourced, packed and transported so that we can be confident that our children are enjoying safe and wholesome food.

expert and inspirational nutritionists

We have appointed Maurice Beck, with 40 years experience in the food industry, as Head of Food Development. He is dedicated to working with our talented catering team to fully utilise their experience in creating even more healthy and mouthwatering menus for our children.

We also work closely with Annabel Karmel MBE, best-selling author and inspirational children's nutritionist, to devise recipes that are tasty and fun for our children to eat.

'eat fussy' at david lloyd

Annabel's 'Eat Fussy' range of meals is on the menus at our David Lloyd nurseries (which do not have a dedicated chef) to ensure the food is of the same exceptional standard as that prepared by our stand-alone nurseries.

mealtimes at asquith

Babies in our care will be fed with the milk parents provide and their mealtimes dictated by their routine at home. They will be cuddled while they are fed, just as they would be at home. At weaning stage, we feed freshly pureed food in a high chair or floor chair. We tell you what they eat and how much, again, keeping to the routine they have at home. Older children sit and eat together. They learn necessary skills for social eating, how to use cutlery, share food and are encouraged to try new things. Our staff take part in mealtimes and chat with the children as they feed them, helping them to differentiate between healthy and not so healthy, foods. As well as main meals, we provide snacks of fresh fruit and vegetable segments throughout the day that the children can help to prepare. By becoming involved, they are more likely to taste new foods and quickly begin to recognise different fruit and vegetables.

food that looks good and tastes even better

The food we prepare needs to look good and taste even better; it is no use to anyone if the children don't want to eat it! New recipes are trialled at a number of our nurseries before inclusion on the menu. We are always happy to discuss your child's eating habits with you, whether it's their individual needs or special dietary requirements.