Teaching children early is important in promoting good eating habits and life-long health. The Head Start/Preschool Program is committed to providing students with nutritious meals that will help them grow healthy and strong and be successful in school.
OUR NUTRITION PROGRAM
For children to gain maximum benefits from our Head Start Preschool Program, as well as get a good start in life, they must have healthy bodies and minds. Nutritious food plays an important role in attaining this state of health. Jurupa Unified School District's Preschool Programs participate in the National School Lunch Program which serves a variety of nutritious and culturally diverse food items. As a part of their daily schedule, each child will receive a nutritious breakfast or lunch depending on the classroom session they attend.
Mealtime provides opportunities to learn about nutrition, share responsibilities and develop good hygiene practices. Children view mealtime as a pleasurable experience and also use that time for engaging in socialization and developing pro-social skills. Staff support good nutritional habits by providing children with healthy food experiences and activities that are supported within the classroom curriculum. Nutrition curriculums such as Color Me Healthy and Harvest of the Month are also used. In the Head Start Preschool Program, all meals are served family style. Staff and children sit together at tables, serve themselves from child-sized platters, and share thoughts on experiences as they eat. With family style meals, children are able to learn cooperation and social skills, develop language skills, and expand on their fine motor skills.
To ensure that children are provided with meals that meet nutritional standards, children may not bring food, candy, snacks, or beverages to school. Any food or drink served by this program is not allowed to leave the classroom. A menu will be posted monthly for your reference. Items prepared by families and/or at home are not permitted in the classroom.
FOOD SUBSTITUTIONS FOR ALLERGIES
If your student needs meal accommodations due to food allergies the Meal Accommodation/Medical Statement form below MUST be returned to the Pre-K School Readiness Center Office. Meal accommodations cannot be honored without this completed form that requires a physician's signature.
You may also use this form to request meal item omissions for religious reasons and for this it does not require a physicians signature.
Meal Accommodation/Medical Statement Form - English
Meal Accommodation/Medical Statement Form - Spanish
