A catered hot lunch program is provided to all children at the Center. Every meal includes a hot entrée, fresh fruit, carefully prepared fresh or frozen vegetables, and milk. Almost everything is made from scratch, including soups, sauces and breads. Cost for the lunch program is included in tuition and is not optional.
Childhood is the best time to develop good food habits because early experiences with food have a strong impact on a child's future eating habits and health. Teaching children to eat wisely and moderately is an investment in the future. The foods children eat influence their growth, development, capacity to learn, and overall behavior. Understanding this, our Center provides a variety of nutritious and interesting breakfast and afternoon snacks. The monthly menu is sent home to all families and is posted at the Center. Our menus meet the standards and guidelines of the U.S. Department of Agriculture Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Although the lunch program is not optional, if you prefer your child to bring lunch from home, please do so every day that your child is in attendance at the Center. We will provide milk to drink. Parents are encouraged to support the Center's efforts in developing healthy food habits. When preparing your child's lunch, please choose lean meat, fish, and poultry. Limit foods that are high in saturated fats. Choose foods that are good sources of fiber and starch, such as whole grain breads and cereals, fruits and vegetables, and dried beans and peas. Avoid foods that are high in sugar and sodium. Your help in providing lunches that do not contain candy, soda or junk food is greatly appreciated.
All food allergies must be reported to the staff and documentation of the allergy must be recorded in the child's health folder by the child's physician. In addition, if your child has a severe allergy, we also ask you to provide a recent photograph of your child upon enrollment. The lunch caterer provides a list of food ingredients to avoid possible allergy complications. See the Director or Assistant Director for a copy or visit the CCC Parents Site (access for current parents of NIST CCC only).