The images displayed on this page are of a child's packed lunches from our preschool. We have displayed them here to help parents understand appropriate food portions for children under the age of 5. As our policy states, 1 x carbohydrate + 1 x protein; 2 x Vegetables or Fruit; 1/2 packet of the permitted crisp brands. Please scroll to the bottom of this page for a full breakdown of what is permitted in your child’s packed lunch.
Lunches
At Precious Playdays Preschool, we do not include school lunches, so bringing a packed lunch for your child/children is necessary. We offer a free lunch to children who receive the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) if their parents opt for it. We will inform parents if their child receives EYPP.
Packed Lunch Policy
We have a nutritious packed-lunchbox policy that outlines what you can put in the lunchbox, how to cool and store the food until your child consumes it, and how to transport it safely. We will send the policy directly and ask that you agree by signing the agreement in your Babysdays profile.
Nutrition and portion control
As part of our policy, we outline what your child should be eating each day and how much. These portion sizes are the national guidelines for education set in place by the Department for Education. As an education provider, we follow these guidelines very closely.
Items not permitted
Items were removed from lunchboxes on our first two days of inspecting lunchboxes after giving two weeks’ notice to provide a healthy lunch. Every child was offered a nutritious alternative of steamed vegetables (green beans, butternut squash and carrots), cucumber, fruit, rice cakes, breadsticks, cream cheese or cheddar cheese.
Other foods that are NOT permitted and will be removed from the lunchbox and replaced with a healthy alternative are: flavoured yoghurts, crisps that are not on our permitted list, a full packet of crisps, and processed foods like fridge raiders or equivalent brands.
Success Story
Within days of sharing our healthy lunchbox guidelines, our families rose to the challenge beautifully. Here are just two examples of the wonderful lunches arriving at Precious Playdays. A chicken wrap with cucumber, apples, and a pinch of crisps. Simple, balanced and prepared with love. A ham sandwich, apples and grapes. Both cut appropriately to avoid choking. This is what partnership with our families looks like in action. We are so proud.
Parent Question:
Is that an approved way of cooling food? Yes - our cooling guidelines reflect current best practice from a Level 2 Food Safety course completed on 11/05/2026 with the Food Safety and Standards Authority and the Early Years Alliance
Parent Question:
Do you think it is fair to take food from a 3 year old child? We think it is fair to ensure every child in our care receives nutritious food that meets NHS guidelines, which is also our legal duty under the EYFS Statutory Framework - no child ever goes without being offered a variety of food at Precious Playdays.
Parent Question:
Is this even legal? Not only is it legal, under the EYFS Statutory Framework we have a legal duty to promote health and wellbeing of every child in our care, which includes ensuring food meets NHS and the Department for Education nutritional and portion guidelines,
Q&A
Why do I need to pack an ice pack? Food that is not kept below 8°c enters the temperature danger zone where harmful bacteria such as Salmonella and E.coli can multiply rapidly - at Precious Playdays we have a legal duty to ensure food is stored safely, and any lunchbox arriving without an ice pack will be replaced with our healthy preschool lunch to protect your child
Q&A
Can I bring reheated food in a hot flask? Unfortunately not - reheated food must be eaten immediately and cannot be stored for later consumption, as reheating and then storing food a second time creates a serious risk of bacterial growth that could make your child very unwell
Q&A
Can I bring freshly cooked food in a flask? Unfortunately not - whilst a flask may keep food warm initially, we cannot guarantee it will remain above 75°c throughout the morning and into lunchtime, meaning it could enter the temperature danger zone where harmful bacteria can multiply rapidly and cause serious illness in young children.