Nutrition at Head Start

Meals served at Head Start follow the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program.  Learn more by downloading the following:

• Parent Information Sheet (English)
• Hoja De Informacion Para Los Padres (Espanol)
• Non-discrimination statement  (or see below)

Family Style Meals

• Meals at Head Start are served in a relaxed “family style” setting, with children and adults eating together.  Children serve themselves (as able) and are allowed to choose from what is offered at the table.  Children are encouraged to try all foods, but are not pressured or forced to eat or taste.
• A variety of food is served which broadens each child’s food experiences.
• Children in full-day classrooms receive breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack.
•  Children in half-day classrooms receive:
  •  AM Session – Breakfast and lunch
  •  PM Session – Lunch and afternoon snack
• Individual care is provided to meet special dietary needs.
•  Lesson plans include food and nutrition-related activities.

 Monthly Menus and Recipes

• APRIL 2019
  • 4-day Preschool Menu – Clinton and Shiawassee county classrooms
  • 4-day Preschool Menu – Ingham and Eaton county classrooms
  • Maplehill Menu (except room 109)
  • Maplehill Menu – room 109
  • 5-day Preschool Menu – Full-year rooms (Grand River 106 and Maplehill 116)
  • 5-day Preschool Menu – Part-year rooms (Grand River 108 and Colt 5)
  • Early Head Start Menu
  • Recipes

Healthy and Delicious Eating on a Budget:

• Food Hero – Where Healthy Food Is Fun, Fast, Tasty and Fits Your Budget http://foodhero.org/
• Cooking Matters – Check out shopping and cooking tips along with great recipes
• ChopChop – Tips and recipes to help children and families cook real food together
• Double Up Food Bucks – Learn how to stretch your food dollars!
• Eat Right When Money’s Tight – Learn tips to save money and eat healthy from SNAP-Ed
• Meal Planning, Shopping, and Budgeting
• Spend Smart. Eat Smart. app – Never overpay at the store again! With the free Spend Smart. Eat Smart. app, you’ll save money on groceries using a comparison calculator to find the best bargains. Also, check out the recipes!

Greater Lansing Food Bank – Ingham County Food Resources:

• Food Resources

Nutrition Tips:

• Tips for Feeding Picky Eaters – video (3:07)
• ChooseMyPlate – Help your preschooler eat well, be active, and grow up healthy!
• Video – What kind of Milk and how much should I give my child (age 2 years and older)?
• Video – Whole grains: how much is enough each day?
• Video – Child feeding
• Infant Nutrition
• Toddler Nutrition
• Preschool Nutrition and Fitness
• KidsEatRight.org is a great nutrition resource for parents! You will find tips, recipes and reliable advice about feeding children of all ages and stages.

 

Non-discrimination statement:

In accordance with Federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, the USDA, its Agencies, offices, and employees, and institutions participating in or administering USDA programs are prohibited from discriminating based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication for program information (e.g. Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language, etc.), should contact the Agency (State or local) where they applied for benefits. Individuals who are deaf, hard of hearing or have speech disabilities may contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. Additionally, program information may be made available in languages other than English. To file a program complaint of discrimination, complete the USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form, (AD-3027) found online at: http://www.ascr.usda.gov/complaint_filing_cust.html, and at any USDA office, or write a letter addressed to USDA and provide in the letter all of the information requested in the form. To request a copy of the complaint form, call (866) 632-9992. Submit your completed form or letter to USDA by:

(1) mail: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

1400 Independence Avenue, SW

Washington, D.C. 20250-9410;

(2) fax: (202) 690-7442; or (3) email: vog.adsunull@ekatni.margorp.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.