New cook at Dingwall Little Angels nursery brings healthy meals mixing Scottish meals with a French twist
Register for free to read more of the latest local news. It's easy and will only take a moment.
A DINGWALL nursery has welcomed a new cook at the start of the term changing the game on meal planning.
Marie-Claire Dunbar (33) started at Little Princess Nursery at the start of this term, introducing a new way of planning meals and cooking home-made meals for the children.
The new chef, who hails form the Champagne region of France but has Scottish roots from her father's family side, has impressed staff and pupils with her cooking and meal-planning skills.
Gayle Forrest, assistant manager at the nursery, said: "We really have struck gold with her. She has done lots of research on her menus, she ties it in with Setting the Table guidelines, which is what we aspire to achieve to give children and healthy and balanced diet.
"Instead of eating sugar, she uses yoghurt and fruit juices, and she makes her own Lorne sausage and brioche bread. She is very, very inspirational. The children are experiencing so many different varieties of food and she is really planning the menu so well.
"Before, we hired catering and had a member of staff dedicated to cooking meals, but always via catering so this is the time we had a dedicated cook.
"We felt it would benefit the children and the nursery, to be able to offer more variety and having someone on site that knows the children."
The position is new role created to better tailor the food offer to the kids and to promote healthy-eating habits.
Ms Dunbar, who has gained prestigious diplomas in the catering and hospitality sector (one of which, St Joseph in Château Thierry, was classed third in Europe for its category when she attended) moved to the Highlands nine years ago and has been working in hospitality and restaurants since arriving here.
A fond passion for Scotland, in her recipe she blends Scottish tradition "with a French twist".
She said: "I couldn't have asked for a better job, I create the menu, I think of what my kids like and what food combinations are healthy and using all natural sugars like bananas to sweeten pancakes or avocados in muffins instead of butter.
"I use wholemeal or whole-wheat to make sure they have fibre and loads of veg and fruits for vitamins. I make sure their treats are delicious but healthy. It's a challenge to work on my menus but I love it."
Her youngest daughter attends the school and Ms Dunbar said she is really happy to see her interact with the children and see how much they do at the nursery.
Menus are available on the nursery's website: https://little-angelsnursery.co.uk/
