Teach Social Skills and Independence
At Head Start mealtime is a social affair. It is an opportunity to
sit in small groups and share ideas, learn simple table manners such
as passing food, serving themselves, and using a napkin. In many ways
mealtime is a chance to discuss the lessons of the day.
Broaden Tastes
Young children are often reluctant to try new foods. Studies show
that it takes 7-10 times for a child to acquire a taste for something
new and different. Parents are often surprised that their child
will eat foods at preschool that he refused to eat at home. Often
times it can be the positive peer pressure of seeing other children
taste and enjoy a new food.
Is Fun!
Eating a meal in a Head Start classroom is fun !!! No child is ever
forced to eat or to clean her plate. At Head Start we realize that
when a child is just learning to like new foods, there will be more
food waste. In serving themselves children learn how to estimate
their own level of hunger and by taking repeated small helpings
they'll take responsibility for their own eating.
Nutritious
All of our lunches provide 1/3 of a preschoolers daily Nutritional
requirement including milk, a fruit and a vegetable, a bread or
pasta and a meat or other high protein food. Morning children are
offered a breakfast snack and afternoon children are offered a snack
before they leave. Our goal is to offer your child an opportunity
to try a large variety of new and different foods in a relaxed and
enjoyable setting. We hope to help you teach habits that will last
a lifetime.
|
