Kid's Corner Newletter
SEASONAL OPTION:
Meals on Wheels and More has partnered with the Sustainable Food Center to start offering locally grown seasonal produce. The program is being implemented in alliance with the Farm Direct Programs currently in place at some elementary schools in Austin. Your menu will list this produce as “Seasonal Option.” I will also be sharing a story or photo of the farmer that grew this produce. This story can be read during meal time to create a greater connection between the food the kids are eating and where it came from. Last semester we offered a squash medley and sweet organic tangerines! Feel free to send any feedback you hear from the kids. Have fun and good eating!
TABLE TALK:
Nutrition is a hot topic for children if it is presented in the right way. The dinner table is the perfect time for such learning experiences.
Talk about which foods give you:
• strong bones (milk, greens, pudding)
• good eyesight (orange and yellow fruit and veggies)
• healthy hearts (beans, apples, fish)
Children also love to learn where food comes from:
• Eggs – Chickens
• Hamburgers – Cows
• Nuggets – Chicken
• Milk - Cows
• Cheese – Cow milk
• Yogurt – cow milk
• Vegetables – plant root, leaves and stems
• Fruits – flowers of plants
• Does the food grow in the ground or on a tree?
Children can learn to love healthy food choices and be taught to make good choices on their own. Their own choices are the most important ones to their future because the eating habits they develop while they are young will stay with them for the rest of their lives.