Nutrition

Food and Nutrition Program
Head Start and Early Head Start

Literacy and Nutrition Experiences

Programs must enroll in and bill a USDA Food and Nutrition Services Child Nutrition Program for meal services. Meals and snacks must conform to USDA requirements and be high in nutrients and low in fat, sugar, and salt.
- Reference the Food Fact Sheet, Natural Cheese Chart, and Approved Cereals List for information about foods that cannot be served during HS/EHS hours
Menus must be posted in the classroom and updated if any changes or substitutions are made. Please mark out the planned item on the menu and write in the substituted item using blue ink. Click here to access blank menu templates.
- Sample Snack Menu
- Sample Breakfast Menu
Served menus for meals and snacks provided during HS/EHS hours will be submitted to your Coordinator at monthly recap.
Programs with morning HS/EHS program hours will serve HS/EHS children who have not received breakfast upon arrival a nourishing breakfast.
Providing daily nutritional needs:
- Programs operating >6 hours per day = 1/2-2/3 of a child's daily nutritional needs.
- Programs operating <6 hours per day = 1/3-1/2 of a child's daily nutritional needs.
Meal/snack time must include opportunities for learning.
Family style meals are encouraged.
Ensure bottle fed infants are never laid down to sleep with a bottle.
Make safe drinking water available for children throughout the day.
Nutrition tips and resources for classrooms and families can be found at eclkc.ohs.acf.hhs.gov/nutrition.

Snack and Mealtime Conversations

Snack and mealtimes present a unique opportunity to bond with peers and teachers, expand vocabulary, and develop skills in every domain. Here are a few easy ideas to help extend learning.

Check out these easy conversation starters on this placemat from Talking Is Teaching resource bundle called, "Let's Talk about Food".
If you are looking for ways to engage older children in more in depth conversations during mealtimes or throughout the day, check out this list of conversation starters from The Early Childhood Academy.

Parents and teachers can enhance literacy, mathematics, social studies and critical thinking by expanding stories from children's books with cooking activities. Bring the following suggested books alive by clicking on the activity link next to each book. (The Creative Curriculum for Preschool®, Sixth Edition, Volume 3)
*When applicable activities are tied to Teaching Strategies® The Creative Curriculum for Preschool®, Mighty Minutes® and GOLD® Objectives for Development and Learning.