Blog
Our New Autumn/Winter Menu: Nutritious, Accredited and Made for Little Ones
Our new Autumn/Winter Menu has been carefully designed to provide children with nutritious, varied and enjoyable meals while supporting positive experiences around food, independence and the confidence to explore new tastes. We're also proud that the menu has been independently reviewed and accredited by the NUTRIBE Nutrition Experts, meeting recognised nutritional standards and is designed with children's wellbeing in mind.
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What does it mean when a menu is accredited by nutrition experts?
How do we cater for allergies, intolerances and dietary preferences?
What are the benefits of our menu for your child?
Introduction
Mealtimes are an important part of life at Kindred. They are opportunities for children to explore new tastes, develop independence and share positive experiences around food.
That is why we are delighted to introduce our new Autumn/Winter Menu, developed to provide children with nutritious and enjoyable meals.
The menu has been shaped by feedback shared throughout the year from our nurseries, chefs and families and has been reviewed and accredited externally by the NUTRIBE Nutrition Experts, highly skilled health professionals specialising in nutrition. As part of the review process, we considered children's favourite meals, nutritional balance, kitchen practicality and opportunities to reduce food waste.
We Asked Parents What Matters To Them
We know that mealtimes matter to families and our survey findings reflected that.
94% of parents we polled told us that knowing what their child is eating each day is either essential or very important, highlighting the value of clear communication around food and nutrition [1].
Our Autumn/Winter Menu follows a three-week rotation, helping us offer children a wide variety of meals. Dishes are rotated throughout the cycle too, providing plenty of variety across the term.
Food also plays a key role when choosing a nursery, with 73% of parents describing the menu as either one of the most important factors or an important factor in their decision [2].
Read Our Autumn/Winter Menu
Just as importantly, 91% of parents said that having their child's nutritional and dietary needs met is either a top priority for their family or something they really value [3].
Find out more about our how we meet nutritional and dietary needs.
Because of this, we are confident that our Autumn/Winter Menu reflects what matters most to the families we support. Alongside nutrition, we also looked at the meals children enjoy most, helping us create a menu that balances nutritional value with dishes children are happy to see on their plate.
Nutrition At The Heart Of The Autumn/Winter Menu
Across the three-week rotation, the menu provides a varied mix of:
- Meat and fish dishes
- Vegetarian and plant-based meals
- Fruits and vegetables
- Wholegrains
- Pulses
- Omega-3-rich foods
The menu has also been reviewed against recognised nutritional guidance and standards to help ensure children receive a balanced diet throughout the menu cycle.
Reviewed And Externally Accredited
When a menu is accredited, it means it has been independently reviewed and approved by recognised nutrition experts, giving families confidence that it meets high nutritional standards for children.
Our Autumn/Winter Menu has been developed with nutrition and specialist food safety and compliance provider Hygienicus, who introduced us to NUTRIBE Nutrition Experts to help shape and review the menu.
“Kindred’s Autumn/Winter menus have been independently reviewed and assessed by NUTRIBE Nutrition Experts, with consideration given to nutritional balance, variety, key nutrients, practical food swaps and how the menu works within a real nursery environment.” - The NUTRIBE Nutrition Experts.
Explore Our Expert Approved Nutrition
Food From Different Cultures And Cuisines
Food is a wonderful way for children to learn about the world around them. Our Autumn/Winter Menu includes dishes inspired by different cuisines and cultures, alongside familiar favourites.
We recognise that every child and family is different and meals can be adapted to meet cultural, religious and dietary requirements, including halal, vegetarian and allergy-specific needs.
Recipe Cards Guide Every Meal
Every meal on our menu has a detailed recipe card, providing our teams with clear information about the ingredients and allergens, these recipe cards also help maintain consistency across our nurseries, ensuring meals are prepared and served as intended. Where a child has an allergy or specific dietary requirement, suitable substitutions are planned as part of the menu, helping them enjoy a varied and nutritious meal alongside their friends.
Helping Keep Mealtimes Safe
We use colour-coded placemats to clearly identify allergies, dietary requirements and preferences at mealtimes. Combined with detailed meal checks and a handover process between our kitchen and nursery teams, this helps ensure every child receives the correct meal. Mealtimes are closely supervised too, helping children enjoy their food safely and giving families extra peace of mind.
Our Weaning Partnership with Parents
First introductions to food are very important to weaning babies. We will work closely with you throughout this stage and introduce new tastes and textures, we will be guided by you and your child. Depending on your child’s individual needs, many of our meals can be pureed, mashed and offered as finger foods.
Helping Children Enjoy New Foods
Young children can have changing preferences and trying something unfamiliar can take time. Our approach is therefore about encouragement, rather than pressure.
We know that trying new foods can take time, so we balance familiar favourites with new flavours and ingredients. Sometimes this means incorporating vegetables into popular dishes while also serving them visibly, helping children recognise different foods and feel more confident exploring them at their own pace.
A Positive Experience Around Food
Our team members sit with children where possible, helping to model positive eating habits, table manners and conversation. Children are given plenty of time to eat and are encouraged to listen to their own appetite.
If a child is still hungry and there is enough food available, they can be offered a second helping.
We never want children to feel pressured to eat. If a child does not want to eat or becomes distressed, food can be removed without fuss.
As children grow, mealtimes can also become opportunities to develop independence. Older children may help to set the table, pour drinks or serve food, building confidence and practical skills along the way.
A Menu Made With Children In Mind
Our new Autumn/Winter Menu reflects our approach to food at Kindred: nutritious, varied and designed with children in mind.
By offering a wide range of foods in a positive and supportive environment, we aim to help children build confidence with new tastes and textures and enjoy mealtimes.
Ready To Experience The Kindred Awe And Wonder?
Footnotes
[1] Results taken from our poll ran on Satchel 25/09/2026 with parents from Kindred Bournemouth, Kindred Hanwell, Kindred Mayflower, Kindred St Neots, Kindred West Bridgeford, Kindred Islington, Kindred Beeston and Kindred Lowdham. Participants were asked “How important is it for you to know what your child is eating each day?”. We received 110 responses to this question.
[2]Results taken from our poll ran on Satchel 25/09/2026 with parents from Kindred Bournemouth, Kindred Hanwell, Kindred Mayflower, Kindred St Neots, Kindred West Bridgeford, Kindred Islington, Kindred Beeston and Kindred Lowdham. Participants were asked "How important was the food and menu when deciding which nursery to choose?" We received 82 responses to this question.
[3]Results taken from our poll ran on Satchel 25/09/2026 with parents from Kindred Bournemouth, Kindred Hanwell, Kindred Mayflower, Kindred St Neots, Kindred West Bridgeford, Kindred Islington, Kindred Beeston and Kindred Lowdham. Participants were asked Which of the following best describes how you feel about your child's nutritional and dietary needs being met at nursery?" We received 79 responses to this question.