A key component of the Center is the food program. Each day children have the opportunity to experience nutritious, healthy and well-balanced meals. Three family-style meals are provided each day: breakfast, lunch, and an early afternoon snack. Our on-site cook prepares "homemade" entrees and snacks that are typically low in sugar and include whole grains. Our food program allows us to send positive messages to children regarding nutrition and healthy lifestyles. Meals are planned to include foods of a differing texture, flavor, color, and consistency. A nutritious food is not nutritious if the child does not eat it, so care is taken to serve food attractively and in a form that facilitates independent eating (i.e., small pieces, finger foods).Food preferences and attitudes formed in preschool years influence lifelong dietary habits. It is our policy to plan our menu 
based on the USDA guidelines which recommend minimizing consumption of salt, sugar and fat, and increasing the frequency of whole grain foods, lean meats, legumes, fruits, and vegetables. Weekly, the Center provides a variety of vegetarian meals using alternate sources of protein that include beans, lentils, peas, milk products and grains. No pork or beef products are served at the Center.
Since appetites and growth of preschool children are constantly fluctuating, it is understood that some days a child will be very hungry and other days will not eat much. Children are encouraged, but not forced, to eat foods that have been served to them. Meals are served frequently at the Center because children’s activity levels and growth needs often require a frequent source of nutrients and energy. Children in the full day program receive breakfast, lunch and an afternoon snack. Children enrolled in the morning program receive breakfast and children in the afternoon program receive a snack.
Menus are planned in advance and posted weekly in each classroom. Substitutions are noted on the menu. Children eat meals with the teachers in their classrooms. An effort is made to make mealtimes relaxed, interesting and pleasant. Teachers model acceptable mealtime behavior and use the opportunity to reinforce many concepts appropriate to the preschool classroom. Parents are welcome to share an occasional meal with us. All children are served the same foods unless allergies, religion, or health needs require dietary restrictions. Please discuss these with the Director so appropriate substitutions may be made. A special dietary request inconsistent with USDA guidelines will require documentation from a physician.
