There was great excitement in the Blue Windmill garden recently when the children helped to harvest sweetcorn and courgettes that had been growing at nursery.
Growing our own fruit and vegetables gives children the opportunity to see where food comes from and to notice how plants change over time. They can watch small seedlings develop, help care for the plants and eventually see the produce being picked and used.
This time, the vegetables travelled only a very short distance: from our nursery garden into our kitchen.
Freshly prepared by our nursery cook
Our new cook, Georgia, used the freshly picked sweetcorn and courgettes to make sweetcorn and courgette fritters for the children’s lunch.
The fritters were a lovely way to use the garden produce in a meal that was colourful, manageable for small hands and full of different tastes and textures.
The children were able to make the connection between the vegetables they had seen growing outside and the food served on their plates. Experiences like this can help make unfamiliar foods feel more interesting and encourage children to become curious about what they eat.
Healthy eating at our nursery in Rugby
Healthy eating at nursery is not only about the food placed on the table. It is also about helping children develop a positive and relaxed relationship with food.
At Blue Windmill, children have opportunities to:
- grow and harvest fruit, vegetables and herbs;
- learn where different foods come from;
- explore new tastes and textures;
- enjoy freshly prepared meals with their friends; and
- talk about food as part of everyday nursery life.
Our menus are planned to offer a varied and balanced range of meals and snacks. We also take account of children’s allergies, medical needs and individual dietary requirements.
The nursery garden makes an important contribution to this. As well as providing a wonderful outdoor space for play, it allows children to experience the whole journey from planting and growing to harvesting and eating.
Courgette and Sweetcorn Fritters
Ingredients
150g courgette, approximately one medium courgette
120g frozen or freshly cooked sweetcorn
4 spring onions
100g plain flour
¼ teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons of oil for cooking
Method
Wash the courgette, remove the end and grate it using the coarse side of a grater.
Place the grated courgette in a sieve and press or squeeze it firmly to remove as much excess water as possible. Pat it with kitchen paper if it still feels very wet.
Trim the spring onions and slice them finely.
Put the courgette, sweetcorn and spring onions into a large bowl.
Add the flour and baking powder, followed by the beaten eggs. Stir everything together until the vegetables are evenly coated and the mixture holds together.
Warm the oil in a frying pan over a medium heat.
Spoon small portions of the mixture into the pan. Press each one gently with the back of a spoon or fork until it is approximately 1.5cm thick.
Leave the fritters to cook without moving them for around three to four minutes. Once the underside is golden and releases easily from the pan, turn them over.
Cook the second side for approximately three minutes, or until golden and cooked through.
Continue cooking in batches, adding a little more oil when necessary.
A few useful tips
Try not to move the fritters too soon. Once the first side is properly cooked, they should lift away from the pan much more easily.
Cooking a few at a time also makes them easier to turn and helps them cook evenly.
Learning through everyday experiences
For young children, growing and preparing food brings together many areas of learning.
They can notice changes in the natural world, develop new vocabulary, practise handling tools and ingredients, count and compare produce and learn about caring for living things.
Most importantly, they can enjoy the satisfaction of seeing something grown in their own nursery garden become part of a shared meal.
We look forward to seeing what the children and Georgia create from our next garden harvest.
Find out more about us
If you are looking for a day nursery in Rugby, we would be delighted to show you around. Please get in touch to arrange your visit.