July 2022
Preschool Graduation
The time just goes to quickly, it doesn’t feel that long ago that your preschool year started. It is always an amazing journey with you all, watching you grow and develop into such confident young people all ready for your next adventure. Thank you so much for attending our Graduation, it was lovely of you to join us and such a special day. We are so very proud of you.
Social Media and Marketing
"Hi! My name is Royce.
I am the new Social Media & Marketing Assistant for Snapdragons. I will be spending time at all of the nurseries capturing magical moments and, permissions allowing, sharing them on our media platforms for parents and guardians to see. So don’t be alarmed if your children ask you if you saw the man with the camera in the nursery garden, it’s just me.
To see these moments please follow us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter. Or head over to our website for even more!"
Chefs Corner
As many of you are kind enough to compliment the meals that we provide for you, we thought it would be good to share some of our recipes with you.
This month is… Broccoli Pesto Pasta
Recipe:
400g Penne Pasta
250g Broccoli
1 clove of Garlic
Juice of half a lemon
5tbsp Olive oil
4tbsp Grated Parmesan
3tbsp Cream
5 Basil Leaves
Method:
Step 1: Boil pan of water before adding the pasta and cook according to the pack instructions. Meanwhile, bring a pan of salted water to the boil, add the Broccoli, and cook for 4 minutes then drain. Keep the drained water to one side.
Step2: Blend together the broccoli, basil, garlic, olive oil, lemon juice, cream, and parmesan until it forms a paste. If a little thick use some of the drained water to dilute creating a sauce.
Step 3: Drain the pasta and return to the pan, stir in your broccoli pesto until all pasta is coated. Top with extra parmesan.
Serve and Enjoy.
Rhymes and Stories for August
Rhymes
Ten in the Bed
Round and round the garden
The Okey Cokey
I had a little Turtle
Stories
We’re going on a Bear Hunt
Hairy McClary
Healthy eating on a budget
A local Bath dietician and Snapdragons parent has written a helpful guide with tips and suggestions for budget shopping and eating healthily on a budget. Have a read below. The article can also be found in The Bath and Wiltshire Parent magazine
With food prices spiralling, providing nutritious family meals within budget has never been more challenging. Dietitian, Gemma Besant shares her tips on how to shop smart without compromising on your family’s health
Savvy shopping
Plan your meals Planning your meals in advance means that during busy weeks you’re not rushing around the supermarket trying to think of what to eat!
Create a four-week meal plan Having a four-week cycle ensures you use up items that otherwise might have sat in the cupboard or fridge for months on end and helps to keep costs down. Lonely jar of pesto at the back of the fridge anyone?
Switch up the meal plan every few months to keep things seasonal and interesting.
Make a shopping list before each shop and stick to it, this helps you to avoid impulse purchases. Before you go shopping remember to check what you have already.
Check use by dates to avoid wasting food. Freeze what you can for later to keep it fresh.
Compare prices per 100g Larger amounts often cost less gram for gram, so buy these when you can afford to as it will save you money in the long-term. Products such as rice, potatoes, herbs, and spices are often more cost-effective to buy in bulk, as well as non-food items such a washing powder.
When you can, pop by your local shop or supermarket towards the end of the day to pick up deals on food near the end of its shelf life. Ideal for things that can be frozen like meat, fish, milk, cheese, and bread.
Don’t shop hungry You’re more likely to be tempted by unhealthy foods and spend more than you need to if you go shopping on an empty stomach.
Consider online shopping Some people find they are less likely to make impulse purchases if they shop online. If you’re a regular online shopper its worth investing in a delivery pass to bring down the cost of delivery.
Be cautious about products on offer, consider if you will use it or can store for later before being tempted by supermarket deals.
Switch to own brand products They often taste the same or even better as branded alternatives.
Frugal Foods
Healthy eating on a budget is becoming more and more challenging, however there are still some foods out there that are good for our bodies and our bank balances:
Tinned or dried beans (cannellini, borlotti, butter to name a few) and pulses such as chickpeas, and lentils are rich sources of plant protein and fibre. They’re great flavour carriers and can cost as little as 60p a tin. Add them to meals such as chilli con carne, spaghetti Bolognese or shepherd’s pie either as a meat alternative or to make a smaller pack of mince go further.
Go veggie a few days a week By having a few meat-free days each week you’re helping the planet and your wallet.
Vegetable stir-fries, curries and pasta dishes are a tasty, low-cost way of getting your 5-a-day.
Eggs are an inexpensive and versatile ingredient for numerous nutritious meals, omelettes, frittatas, shakshuka, huevos rancheros to name a few. Include lots of veggies to make a delicious, balanced and filling meal.
Wonky vegetables taste really good too!
Look for wonky or imperfect veg A 2.5kg bag of ‘wonky’ potatoes in Morrisons cost 89p, while a pack of ‘perfect’ potatoes was £1.50 but the taste and nutritional content will be the same.
Buy seasonally Fruits and vegetables in season are often priced more competitively and usually taste better too! See right for a handy list of fruits and vegetables in season in July and August.
Frozen fruits and vegetables are often cheaper and may even be more nutritious than fresh as they are frozen at the point of picking, preserving their nutrients. Additionally, they don’t go off meaning less potential for waste.
Useful websites for cooking on a budget
The blog by food activist and writer Jack Monroe has some great recipes to help your food budget go further. cookingonabootstrap.com
Supercook.com suggests recipes using whatever you have in the fridge/cupboards. Great on a day that you want to use up leftovers.
Love food, hate waste has recipes to make your food go further and tips on how to maximise shelf life
www.lovefoodhatewaste.com
Change 4 Life offers healthy family-friendly recipes that don’t cost a lot.
www.nhs.ukhealthier-families/recipes
Nominate your Superstar
We love to hear from our families across Snapdragons about excellent service they have received. If someone at the nursery has impressed you, please fill in their details below and submit to the nursery. We run a rewards scheme for our teams and they can earn gifts by receiving nominations!
