Food Philosophy: What Our Children Deserve
Opportunities:
- To eat wholesome, nutritious foods
- Simple components, whole foods as much as possible
- Focus on whole grains; minimize simple sugars
- Made from scratch rather than premade, processed products
- Emphasize proteins for morning snack and lunch for lasting energy
- To facilitate lasting, healthy relationships with foods
- Plenty of chances to experience new tastes and foods
- Family style meals that allow children to determine what is plated
- Teacher as an appropriate role model, willing to try new things
- Teacher strategies that encourage food relationships without trickery
- To see mealtimes as pleasant, socially rich experiences
- Children gathering together to share meals in a relaxed timeframe
- Teacher and children conversing about events and happenings
- Children asking for food to be passed to them, and passing to others
- Children remaining in conversation at the table as long as desired
- To develop awareness and competence as citizens of a community
- Gardening opportunities help children understand where food originates
- Curriculum experiences encourage children to explore food as fuel
- Family-style serving facilitates confidence in self-help skills
- Children participating in lunch set-up, serving, and clearing responsibilities develop an awareness of helping themselves and others
- Green practices: participating in composting, using real, non-disposable materials