The Child Care Food Program provides meals and snacks to the children of the Child Development and Head Start Programs. The types of meals and snacks depend on the ages of the children, when they arrive at the center, and how long they will stay. At GLEAMNS we are feeding the children a Breakfast, Lunch and Snack.
Children can learn good, healthful eating habits when they are young. Along with motor and developmental skills, proper eating skills are developed early. Offering healthful meals and snacks provides the energy for children’s active lives, and keeps them healthy and fit.
Food Service
Meals at Head Start are provided by school districts, food vendors, or
by our own in-house food service personnel. Breakfast, lunch, and an
afternoon snack are provided to the children at no charge. It is
required that we have a school lunch application filled out for all
children who attend classes located in a school district building.
Growing children need nutritious foods throughout the day. The child who is hungry does not learn as well as one who is not hungry. A meal pattern that is set by the Child Care Food Program and Head Start is used, to promote Health and Disease Prevention. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans is used to promote choosing a variety of foods while reducing, fat and cholesterol. These guidelines encourage, the use of vegetables, fruits, and grains, while using fat, salt and sugar in moderation.
Within our system, we operate, eight kitchens serving approximately 1470 children a breakfast, lunch and snack. All kitchens are operating from menus that are prepared in advance, and the foods are prepared from standardized recipes. The menus and a nutritional newsletter is printed monthly and distributed to each child. The meal components allow for a healthful diet. For example, along with other nutrients, Milk provides a good source of calcium; Meat or Meat alternates and Bread or Bread alternates are important sources of iron and vitamins. Vegetables and Fruits are good sources of Vitamins A and C, minerals and fiber. Together the meal components provide food energy and important nutrients.
Our menus include a good source of iron, calcium, Vitamin C daily, along with a good source of Vitamin A every other day. The specified caloric intake for the children is 1/2 to 2/3’s their recommended daily requirement. Different nutrients are needed throughout the day. That’s why it’s important to eat a variety of foods. The nutrients needed are carbohydrates, protein, fat, vitamins, minerals, and water.
Every child enrolling into our Head Start Learning Centers, are given a physical and dental screenings. The child’s height and weight are charted three times a year. We contact parents of children who are at nutritional risk, with helpful hints for a healthy lifestyle.
Food Allergies and Special Diets
Children with special dietary needs will be served food appropriate
for their needs. It is the parent’s responsibility to inform Head
Start staff of any allergies, religious food preferences, or
special/medical dietary needs a child might have, before they start
eating at Head Start. These special dietary needs will be identified
on a nutrition survey filled out at registration. If a child has a
milk or other food allergy, we must have a "Meal Request form" signed
by the child’s health care provider stating the nature of the allergy
and what foods can be substituted.
Nutrition is part of Head Start Curriculum. Weekly activities are planned for the classroom staff to do with the children. Children learn about healthy nutrition by watching videos, reading books, classroom demonstrations, and field trips. Classroom staff and children participate in Family Style Service, where children and adult sit and eat together, sharing the same meal, interacting in pleasant conversation.
“Nutrition is an important part of our children’s lifestyle, how well they eat today will make a difference in their future.”
