Promoting Inclusion Through Food Diversity in Nurseries
10th March 2025
Fostering inclusion means creating environments where all children feel valued and respected, regardless of their cultural background or dietary requirements. Nurseries are pivotal in setting the foundations for these important values and lifelong healthy eating habits.
One way of promoting inclusion in nursery settings is through food diversity, which involves introducing young children to a wide range of foods, including dishes from different cultures and traditions.
In this blog, we are going to explore why it’s worth paying attention to food diversity and how you can promote inclusion in your nursery by including diverse food and dishes in everyday meals.
Why Food Diversity in Nurseries Matters
Food served in early years settings can significantly impact children's development and attitudes toward food. There are many reasons why it’s important to think about food diversity when planning your nursery menus:
Prevent or reduce picky eating habits. Introducing nutritionally balanced meals and diverse foods at an early age helps young children develop a palate for a variety of foods. They learn to be more open to trying new dishes, reducing the risk of becoming picky eaters. When nurseries serve foods from different cultures, it encourages children to be more adventurous and open-minded, breaking down barriers and building positive attitudes toward diversity from an early childhood stage.
Nutritional balance and variety. Each country and culture has different recipes that use various ingredients and cooking methods. Each one comes with a unique set of benefits. Incorporating diverse foods in early childhood settings exposes children to different nutrients, which are essential for their growth and development.
Cultural awareness. Encouraging children to explore and learn about diverse foods at a young age not only promotes nutritional wellbeing but also fosters inclusion, respect and cultural awareness. Experiencing something different helps them understand these concepts and encourages them to value and celebrate differences.
Social skills. Mealtime is not just about eating; it should be an enjoyable time focused on conviviality and commensality. A moment when they can learn about different foods and cultures, socialise and say what they like best. Early years practitioners can help children learn important social skills and respect different cultures by making nursery mealtimes fun and positive. Eating together and sharing culturally diverse meals builds a sense of community, promoting social interaction, communication skills, and strong relationships with other kids.
Language development. Introducing different foods helps children learn new names, ingredients like herbs and spices, and culturally specific terms, enriching their vocabulary and knowledge.
Cognitive development: Exploring new flavours and textures enhances cognitive growth and curiosity, enabling children to make connections between their sensory experiences and understanding of the world.
Practical Tips to Incorporate Diverse Foods into Nursery Menus
Integrating diverse foods into nursery meals can be both fun and educational. Here are our top practical tips on how to incorporate cultural food into your menu:Create rotating menus: It's important to ensure variety and change your menu regularly so kids can remain engaged. Developing a menu rotation system will allow you to include traditional foods from various cultures. This ensures that children regularly experience diverse foods and flavours.
Engage families: Families can be a great source of inspiration for cultural dishes. Encourage parents from different backgrounds to share recipes and cooking tips, and why not even visit the nursery to showcase their traditional foods and customs.
Celebrate cultural food days: Mark international celebrations and awareness days by preparing special dishes from around the world. These events provide excellent opportunities for children to explore and learn through hands-on experiences and are also a great opportunity to engage them in fun activities. From Hanukkah to Easter, from Diwali to National Empanada Day, there is something to suit every taste!
Let's not forget healthy eating! Food is an integral part of many celebrations, and introducing diverse foods into your menu is a great way to introduce children to unfamiliar tastes. But it's really important to keep meals healthy and balanced. Make sure to always serve nutritious food that doesn't exceed the recommended salt and sugar levels.
If you need some inspiration for your international menu, check out our Chicken & Paneer Makhani and Maldivian Tuna Tabbouleh Salad recipes.
How to Promote Cultural Diversity Through Positive Mealtimes
The best way to promote cultural diversity effectively through food is by creating positive mealtimes spent enjoying dishes from diverse backgrounds. Children eat better when mealtimes are engaging, comfortable, and inclusive.Encourage your staff to sit together with the kids and eat with the children, sharing the same food and discussing different food cultures. Role modelling from staff will make children more willing to try new flavours.
Reflect the children's diverse backgrounds in your nursery by incorporating celebrations and foods from their countries of origin. This way, you create a sense of belonging and ensure everyone feels equally represented.
A great way of introducing new cultures and different types of food is through storytelling, songs, and activities that highlight cultural backgrounds. Early years practitioners can incorporate stories about where the food comes from, songs, interactive games, or fun facts about the foods served. This approach not only supports healthy eating habits but also makes mealtime a more engaging and exciting learning experience.
Final Thoughts
How children feel during their time at the nursery creates memories that stay with them. That's why it's so important to make these times happy and positive from the very beginning.
By integrating diverse foods and different flavours into nursery menus, you are teaching children to celebrate differences and foster inclusivity from an early age.
At Zebedees, we understand the importance of diverse, balanced nursery meals. How do we bring food diversity to life? Through our 'Around the World' menu, running every Friday of Week C. This initiative introduces children to flavours from different cultures, promoting inclusivity and expanding their taste preferences in a fun and structured way.
You can explore how we integrate cultural food in our menus and how our catering services can support your nursery in promoting food diversity and inclusion.