Nursery Spring & Summer Menu: Fresh, Balanced, Delicious

12th May 2025

Spring is in the air, and so is the launch of our exciting nursery spring menu! Designed for the warmer months, our spring and summer menu is bursting with seasonal produce, fresh flavours, and child-friendly textures to suit growing appetites and curious taste buds.

Running from Monday 28th April to Friday 10th October 2025, the new nursery summer menu has been crafted by our Head Chef Brendan and reviewed by our Consultant Nutritionist, Charlotte Stirling-Reed.

Tailoring every nursery menu to the time of year brings a wealth of benefits. By integrating seasonal fruits and vegetables, we can ensure the little ones in our care enjoy fresher ingredients and a greater variety in their diets.

This blog will not only give you a preview of our new dishes but also provide expert tips for nurseries on how to create a great summer nursery menu that supports healthy eating and child development.

Consider these essential steps during your planning process to create a nursery summer menu that meets balanced dietary requirements and that children will love.

Incorporate Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables
Ensure Meals Are Well-Balanced and Nutritious
Focus on Light Meals
Prioritise Hydration
Offer Safe Alternatives

Incorporate Seasonal Fruits and Vegetables

Seasonal ingredients are fresher, tastier and more nutritious. Fruits and vegetables consumed in their natural season contain higher levels of vitamins and minerals, as they're harvested at their peak ripeness.

Think strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, courgettes, peppers, melons, and leafy greens. These not only brighten up children’s plates but also help deliver peak nutrients that support growth and immunity.

They also have a lower environmental impact due to reduced transportation needs.

Ensure Meals Are Well-Balanced and Nutritious

A good nursery menu includes a variety of food groups: complex carbs, lean protein, healthy fats, fruits, and vegetables. Balanced meals help provide children with the energy and nutrients they need for learning and play. For guidance, check out our expert-developed nursery food section.

Focus on Light Meals

In warmer months, lighter meals are more comfortable for little tummies. Dishes like salads, veggie-rich wraps, and mild curries work well. Regular snacks are just as important.

Following UK recommendations, children over one year old should have three meals and two snacks daily. Here are 5 balanced snack ideas perfect for a light and hydrating summer menu.

Prioritise Hydration

Hydration is key! Include water-rich produce like cucumber, watermelon, and oranges. Fruit smoothies and chilled soups like gazpacho can also help keep little ones cool and hydrated.

Offer Safe Alternatives

Don't forget about special dietary requirements. Always accommodate allergies or dietary restrictions by offering clearly labelled and safe alternatives. Transparency is vital in managing food allergies in nurseries and keeping children safe. For inspiration, see our ideas for veggie meals for children.

Here’s a glimpse at what a delicious, balanced, and summer nursery menu might look like:

Breakfast: Light cereals, fresh fruit slices, yoghurt or toast
Lunch: Vegetable Dahl, Chipotle Beef, Creamy Red Pesto Chicken, Coconut & Chickpea Curry
Second Course: Cranberry & Yoghurt Flapjack
Tea: Chicken & Rainbow Slaw Wrap, Chicken, Spinach & Crème Fraiche Sandwich, Broccoli, Spring Onion & Cheddar Muffin, and Charlotte’s Traffic Light Pasta Salad

Check out our full spring and summer menu for more details.

Download Menu

Looking for something more substantial?

Our Kids Club Tea adds a fourth snack item to our classic three-item tea, ideal for longer days or active little ones. Popular savoury snacks include wraps, scones, muffins, pinwheels, and rice cakes.

Need Something for the Babies?

If you’re expecting babies at your nursery, don’t forget to try our Zebedees Frozen Baby Purees. They’re free to trial and designed to support weaning with minimal waste and maximum nutrition. Just get in touch, we’ll be happy to send you a complimentary box.

Kids’ Favourite Spring & Summer Foods

When planning your spring and summer menus, keep in mind that children love fun and colourful meals!

Some firm favourites include:

Fruit skewers: These are a fantastic way to offer a variety of seasonal fruits in an engaging format. Kids love picking and eating individual pieces.
Smoothie bowls: They're a great way to sneak in extra nutrients and keep kids feeling full and refreshed.
Blueberry baked oats: Great for providing energy and fibre, baked oats can also be enjoyed at room temperature or even slightly chilled in the warmer months.
Yoghurt with fruit compote: A simple, nutritious and fresh option, which provides protein and calcium.
Mini muffins: Their small size makes them ideal for snacks or as part of a balanced lunch.
Colourful pasta salads: When combined with fun pasta shapes, they are a great option to incorporate vegetables and protein.

These are not only eye-catching but packed with nutrients and perfect for warmer days.

Nursery mealtimes are fantastic opportunities for fun, social interaction, and fostering a positive relationship with food.

Follow our tips below to provide enjoyable mealtimes for kids at your nursery:

Rainbow Plates & Playful Textures

Bright colours and interesting textures help encourage children to try new foods. Present meals in a fun and engaging way.

Portion Sizes Matter

Young children need appropriately sized portions that suit their developmental stage. Oversized servings can be overwhelming and contribute to food waste.

Ensure Great Food Variety

Rotating meals and trying new vegetables helps maintain interest and delivers broader nutrition. Ensuring food diversity also helps children's cognitive development and promotes inclusion.

Easy-to-Eat Textures

Soft, manageable textures are important for toddlers and pre-schoolers. Avoid hard or sticky foods that are difficult to chew or pose a choking hazard.

Include Finger-Friendly Options

Finger foods for kids are small, typically bite-sized or cut into strips or small pieces that are easy for little hands to grasp. Most veggies, for example, make fantastic first finger foods for children and encourage independent eating.

How Does Zebedees Plan Spring & Summer Nursery Menus?

As a trusted nursery catering provider, our approach blends culinary creativity and expert nutrition with real nursery feedback.

Zebedees menus are developed by Head Chef Brendan, in collaboration with our Consultant Nutritionist Charlotte Stirling-Reed. All recipes are trialled with nurseries before being finalised. This year, we also launched our Mini Chefs Menu, inviting nursery submissions. The winning recipes were adapted to meet Zebedees’ standards and now feature every Friday on Menu C.

We follow strict food safety standards and only use approved companies for our high-risk products, such as meat, fish and dairy. All our meals continue to follow the Eat Well Start Well and Government Guidance for Early Years Settings.

We choose local suppliers to prepare our nursery meals to ensure they're fresh and made with quality ingredients. This approach also supports our goal of reducing our carbon footprint, as we're also actively working towards achieving a Silver Certificate with the Steps to Environmental Management (STEM) scheme, which includes reducing our environmental impact and using sustainable resources.

Final Thoughts

A successful nursery summer menu isn’t just about fresh food, it’s about creating seasonal meals that are safe, nutritious and fun. By using seasonal produce, offering variety, and listening to the needs of children, Zebedees helps nurseries provide outstanding food all year round.

Looking for a fresh new nursery summer menu?

Book a free tasting session today! Back to Latest News