On The Menu
Every season we release an exciting new six week menu which includes nutritionally balanced meals that meet each food group recommendation. The menu features in season fruits and vegetables, as well as proteins, carbohydrates and healthy fats, essential for growing bodies and minds.
You can see the menu your centre is offering displayed on the wall at the centre. Below is what an sample menu looks like.
Our spring seasonal menu is bursting with fresh fruit, including delicious, nutrient-rich berries. Fresh fruit provides essential vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants that support children’s growth, strengthen their immune systems, and boost their energy levels throughout the day.
Berries, in particular, are packed with fibre, helping with digestion, while their vibrant colours and sweet flavours encourage healthy eating habits.
By offering a variety of fresh fruit, we ensure that children enjoy tasty, wholesome snacks that contribute to their overall health and development.
A Recipe to Try at Home
Ingredients:
- 2 cups dry penne pasta (or substitute for your preferred shape)
- 3 rashers short cut bacon diced
- ½ cup fresh or frozen peas
- 6 small broccoli florets
- ¼ cup shaved parmesan
- ¼ cup cream cheese
- 1 tsp crushed garlic
Method:
- Fry the diced bacon, garlic and greens in a pan. Gently toss. Once the bacon is crispy, set aside to cool.
- Boil the pasta in a pan of water until cooked, drain.
- Pour the pasta into a large bowl, add the bacon, garlic, greens and parmesan. Toss.
- Garnish with additional parmesan and serve.
Meet Our Centre Cook
Each day, our creative and innovative Centre Cooks prepare a wide variety of nutritious meals and purees for the children and babies in our centres.
Each meal is healthy and delicious, and aligned with children's daily nutritional needs. They also ensure any individual cultural or dietary requirements are being met too.
Our Centre Cooks are committed to making healthy habits fun. They love to take time to involve the children in meal preparation and healthy food education, plus they hold regular cooking classes!
Note: A small number of our centres do not provide meals, however the Centre Manager will let you know when you meet the team prior to enrolment.
"Early life nutrition is crucial for brain development, supporting critical processes such as cell proliferation, neurotransmitter metabolism, and synaptic plasticity, which influence both immediate cognitive abilities and long-term mental health outcomes."
Cambridge University Press, 2022
How Proper Nutrition Helps Brain Development
Did you know that 90% of a child's brain development occurs before they turn five years old? This staggering fact underscores the importance of early childhood as a crucial period for cognitive growth and development. During these formative years, the brain undergoes rapid changes, forming neural connections at an astounding rate. Proper nutrition plays a pivotal role in supporting this critical developmental phase. This is why at Milestones Early Learning, we are committed to providing children with nutritiously balanced meals, prepared fresh daily.
The Science Behind Early Brain Development
From birth to age five, a child’s brain grows more than at any other time in their life. This period is characterized by the formation of trillions of synapses, which are essential for learning and cognitive function. By age two, a child's brain is already 80% of its adult size, and by age five, it reaches 90% of its adult volume (Cambridge).
Essential Nutrients for Brain Development
- Proteins and Amino Acids: These are the building blocks of brain cells and neurotransmitters, crucial for cell growth and repair.
- Omega-3 Fatty Acids: DHA (docosahexaenoic acid) is vital for brain structure and function, aiding in cognitive processes and neuronal communication.
- Vitamins and Minerals: Key nutrients like iron, zinc, iodine, and B vitamins support cognitive development. Iron, for instance, is essential for myelination and the development of the hippocampus, which is associated with memory and learning (Frontiers) (Oxford Academic).
- Antioxidants: Found in fruits and vegetables, antioxidants protect brain cells from damage and support overall brain health.
Impact of Nutrition on Cognitive and Behavioural Development
Proper nutrition in early childhood not only supports physical growth but also significantly influences cognitive abilities and behavioural outcomes. Deficiencies in essential nutrients can lead to impaired cognitive development, attention issues, and long-term health problems. For example, iron deficiency in infancy is linked to long-term cognitive deficits and socio-emotional challenges (Cambridge).
Long-term Benefits of Proper Nutrition
Ensuring that children receive adequate nutrition during their early years has lasting benefits. Studies show that children with proper nutritional support tend to perform better academically, have higher IQs, and exhibit improved social skills later in life. Additionally, good nutrition helps prevent chronic diseases such as obesity and diabetes, which can indirectly affect cognitive function and overall brain health.
Practical Tips for Parents
- Provide a Balanced Diet: Include a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and healthy fats in your child's diet.
- Encourage Hydration: Ensure your child drinks plenty of water, as dehydration can affect cognitive function.
- Limit Processed Foods: Avoid excessive sugar and unhealthy fats that can negatively impact brain development.
Healthy Meals at Milestones
The first five years of life are a critical window for brain development, with nutrition playing a fundamental role in shaping a child’s cognitive abilities and overall health. At Milestones we prioritise providing a balanced diet rich in essential nutrients, to support children's brain development and set the foundation for lifelong learning and wellbeing.