Busy Bees Day Nurseries strive to provide outstanding care for every child that attends one of their nurseries, and is a supporter of the Edible Edinburgh Charter.
Mel Fox, Senior Catering Manager, sets out why:
“Good food is important to us because children attending Busy Bees nurseries experience a variety of healthy balanced and nutritious foods. The quality of food served in our nurseries is such that we believe it will give them all of the energy they need for a busy day of play, learning and development.
“Busy Bees Day Nurseries support the Edible Edinburgh charter because we believe in educating children about food to encourage them to make healthy choices. Menus are carefully planned and freshly prepared on site by our chefs; they are displayed in our nurseries and on our website and our chefs work closely with parents if there is a specific dietary requirement to their child.
“In Scotland we currently hold the Silver Catering Mark Award through the Soil Association. This ensures quality of ingredients. The Catering Mark provides an independent endorsement that food providers are taking steps to improve the food they serve, using fresh ingredients which are free from undesirable additives and trans fats, are better for animal welfare, and comply with national nutrition standards.
“Over the last few years we have made a conscious effort to increase healthy eating for young children and now only use: Red Tractor 
Farm Assured meats – this ensures that all food has been farmed, processed and packed within the UK; RSPCA Assured (was Freedom Food) meats; Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) certified sustainable seafood; Organic milk; and free range eggs. We have also found that sourcing locally and cooking from scratch has been cost neutral or cost beneficial.
“We want our customers to know that our commitment to healthy eating for young children stems from the belief that it is essential to provide the right nutrition to ensure children grow and develop well whilst in our care. Our healthy eating menus and recipes have been put together to ensure they meet the “Eat Better, Start Better” voluntary guidelines. All food is prepared on-site at our day nurseries and our chefs have all received training on allergies and intolerances.
“A healthy food culture in nurseries has been shown to positively affect children’s concentration and behaviour. Children need to get into good eating habits early on to give them the best start in life.”
Find out more about Busy Bees: www.busybeeschildcare.co.uk
