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Nutrition
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G ood eating habits play an important role in a child's ability to learn. Our Health/ Nutrition Team work with a Registered Dietitian to develop a menu that is low in saturated fat, sugar and salt. The menus provide a variety of foods that meet USDA requirements for nutrition, including whole grains. Our menus also allow for seasonal fruit and vegetables to be included in the menu.
Monthly menus are sent home with the children so that parents know what the children are eating in the classroom and parents can plan the home meal menu accordingly. Parents are encouraged to not only volunteer in the classrooms during mealtimes but to become active in planning Head Start meals. If parents would like to make a suggestion for the Head Start menus, they may do so by contacting the Nutrition Supervisor.
In addition to nutritious meals, the Nutritionist evaluates every enrolled child's nutritional status, and works with the instructional staff and family through nutrition education and food experiences to improve nutrition and influence good eating habits. Individual nutrition consults are available to parents by referral through program staff.
Parents are requested to follow the guidelines within the "Nutritious Snack Foods" flyer that all parents receive each year. Foods not approved by the Nutritionist are not permitted to be sent in. These foods include pop, candy, cupcakes, and potato chips. Parents must not send any food to the classroom without prior approval.
If your Head Start/Early Head Start child has an allergy or special diet:
- Contact the Health/Nutrition Team immediately @ 724-430-4818 ext. 116
- With doctor’s order, we can substitute for a specified food item
- Modeling proper nutrition
- Appropriate portion sizes
- Acceptable mealtime behaviors
NOTICE: All meals served to children under the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) are served at no separate charge regardless of race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. There is no discrimination in admissions policy, meal service or use of facilities. CACFP establishes which foods meet requirements of each age group. We adhere to these guidelines during program events. "Any complaints of discrimination should be submitted in writing within 180 days of the incident to the Secretary of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. 20250."