Most Children’s Choice Learning Centers offer a minimum of breakfast, lunch, and two snacks each day. If the center operates with extended hours, we provide children with dinner and an additional snack. Our four-week, rotating menus are reviewed by a registered dietitian and meet USDA guidelines. We menus are available to parents, and we post alerts with pictures of children who have dietary restrictions in the classroom and in the kitchen to ensure that appropriate substitutions are made.
CHILDREN'S CHOICE'S INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD OBESITY
One of several initiatives that Children’s Choice launched in 2005 was a program to address childhood obesity. We totally revamped our menus, trained our staff, and created materials and activities for children to further their understanding of the importance of healthy food choices and daily exercise.
A PARENT'S RESPONSE TO HEALTHY EATING
The families we serve have truly embraced our efforts to offer healthier food choices to their children. A parent at our Wake Forest location has given us permission to share her comments. Shari Barkin, MD, MSHS, is Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Public Health Sciences:
Thanks for your letter to the parents dated 4/13 reviewing parent feedback to the new IMPROVED nutrition program offered at our Children's Choice center. I see that you have had mostly positive feedback with a few complaints sprinkled in (can't please everyone) and I wanted to add my voice.
As a pediatrician who sees childhood obesity running rampant (one out of every three children I see), I want to congratulate you on a job very well done. What a huge difference to walk into breakfast and see cheese and crackers instead of cake (called muffins/danishes)! You are providing children with an important foundation--good food tastes good! This will help to instill the taste for healthy food in our children who are more accustomed to the taste of fat and sugar.
As a public health scientist, I salute you for making this important environmental change. This is how you improve health and this lasts a lifetime.
As a mother, I am DELIGHTED!
Thanks for all your efforts. You are paving the way for healthy children in all facets.
Best, Dr. Barkin
OUR LETTER TO PARENTS ABOUT OUR INITIATIVE TO ADDRESS CHILDHOOD OBESITY
Dear Parents and Families,
At Children’s Choice Learning Centers, we are devoted to advocacy issues related to children and families. Recently, we have been bombarded from a variety of media sources with the results of a great deal of research stating childhood obesity is on the rise.
The research tells us that young children’s obesity issues are more affected by lack of exercise and an increased lack of general mobility than by the food they eat. Watching television and riding instead of walking contribute to this ongoing problem.
Of course, diet is a factor. However, it is important to note that young children’s nutritional needs are different than adults. A good example is when a young child’s brain is still developing, they need more fat in their diet than adults do. Fat assists the brain synapses to integrate more fully.
As early childhood educators, we also know that a young child’s capacity for learning new skills and concepts is formed early. The foundations we lay for their healthy social, emotional, physical, and intellectual skills can serve them well for the rest of their lives. When parents and early childhood educators collaborate in this effort, it can make a huge difference in our children’s lives.
Therefore, we would like you to know about the specific strategies we are using to address childhood obesity at Children’s Choice Learning Centers:
- We have incorporated exercise, music, and movement activities into our daily lesson plans so that all children have opportunities to be active. These activities are offered indoors during inclement weather.
- Outdoor playtime is scheduled at least twice a day.
- At mealtime, preschool children and teachers use family-style food service. Teachers sit with children and talk with them about the food they are enjoying and what healthy foods do for our bodies.
- Children do not watch television at our center. We offer real-world, interactive learning experiences that foster healthy social and emotional development.
- Because children’s brains need lots of water, it is always available to them in the classroom and outdoors.
- Healthy eating habits begin early in life. We have integrated learning activities related to nutrition and the new Food Pyramid Guide Pyramid for Young Children 2- to 6-years-old into our curriculum. We have developed a learning kit, Discover the Taste for Healthy Food Choices, that is available at each center. This kit offers additional resources to help children understand the different food groups and the benefits of choosing healthy foods for our bodies.
- We have revamped our menus to incorporate healthier food choices that young children enjoy.
- These new menus include more fruit and vegetables, whole grains, and yogurt. Additionally, we have made sure that none of our menu items contain trans fatty acids.
We know that the health and welfare of your child is of the utmost concern to you and your family. We share that concern at Children’s Choice Learning Centers. Together we can win the battle against childhood obesity and ensure that our children lead happy, healthy, and productive lives.