Nutrition at Head Start

nutrition at bear river head start

The Nutrition Services at Head Start are a very important part of the physical and social development of children. Our philosophy at Bear River Head Start is to promote proper nutrition for children, families, and staff through modeling, teaching, experiencing, and providing healthy foods. HEALTHY FOODS LEAD TO HEALTHY BODIES, WHICH PRODUCE HEALTHY MINDS!!

Click on the topics below for more information.

Oral Health Information

Bear River Head Start is committed to the health of you and your family, including good oral health. Dental Decay is one of the most prevalent diseases affecting young children today, 5 times more common than asthma. To help educate parents and caregivers and prevent the spread of this disease, Bear River Head Start is dedicated to the Oral Health of our kids. We have integrated a new oral health curriculum into our lesson plans and teach proper brushing techniques. One of our health requirements is that a dental exam and any needed treatment is received for all enrolled children. This ensures that your child is healthy and ready to learn and have fun. Please take a few minutes to educate yourselves! Use these links to find more information about your child’s Oral Health. Cavity Free Kids Curriculum Oral Health and Pregnancy Early Childhood Caries (Decay) Oral Health and Learning Looking for a Dentist? Click here for our provider list in Utah or Idaho. For More Information on Improving the Oral Health of your Family, Call the Oral Health Office at Bear River Head Start at 755-0081 ext. 240 or visit the following websites: National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center American Dental Association American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry

Meals at Head Start

In order for children to learn while at Head Start, they need to have their physical needs met. That is why it is so important for the children to have nutritious meals at times when their bodies are in need of energy. It is important for each child to start the day off with a good breakfast. Breakfast is essential to learning. Snacks are also an important part of a child’s day. Children use a tremendous amount of energy through growth and physical activity (play). Also, their stomachs are small and they need smaller, more frequent meals to receive the needed energy. In the center-based program, the morning classes receive breakfast and lunch, and the afternoon classes receive lunch and a snack while in the classroom. In the home-based program, a snack or meal is provided during group socializations at the center. Parent training is the main focus of the home based program, so these families will receive information on nutrition issues through their home visitor. The following is an example of meals provided in the Head Start classroom:

Breakfast
Lunch
Snack (2 of the 4 groups)
¾ c. milk ¾ c. milk ½ c. milk
½ c. fruit/vegetable ½ c. fruit/vegetable ½ c. fruit/vegetable
½ serv. grain group ½ serv. grain group ½ serv. grain group
  1 ½ oz of meat 1 ½ oz of meat

IF YOUR CHILD HAS AN ALLERGY TO A SPECIFIC FOOD, WE MUST HAVE AN OFFICIAL WRITTEN STATEMENT FROM YOUR DOCTOR that a particular food should not be served to your child, otherwise all foods will be offered. An Allergy Statement Form will need to be filled out by your child’s physician. You can get this form from the Health Specialist, or ask your child’s teacher or your Family Advocate.

Head Start is a place where children can be exposed to a wide variety of foods. Children are encouraged to try new foods and sample all foods served, however, they are never forced to eat foods they are not comfortable with. Foods are never used as a reward or punishment.

Parent volunteers are always needed to help in the classrooms during mealtimes. Volunteers are needed for clean-up of each meal so that the teacher and teacher’s assistant can be more involved with teaching your children. If you are interested in helping each day with mealtime, please let your child’s teacher know. Head Start will pay for you to obtain a food handler’s permit so that you can volunteer in the classroom. A parent who volunteers in the classroom for the full class time is provided with free meals. If you are interested in being a volunteer, please contact us directly.

USDA Regulations

Head Start participates in the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program. This program has specific nutritional and quantity requirements on the food served to receive reimbursement. This program requires that each child enrolled must have a completed Head Start Enrollment Application on file.

Birthday Snacks

Parents are NOT expected to provide birthday snacks for the class when their child has a birthday. However, some parents want to participate in this custom. These guidelines are for parents who are interested in providing birthday snacks for their child’s class. Your help in complying with Sanitation Regulations is very much appreciated.

  • Homemade foods (cakes, candy, cookies, muffins, etc.) CANNOT be brought into the center because of State Sanitation Laws.
  • Sweet treats are avoided due to low nutrient density and the cause of tooth decay. Think of alternative ways to honor your child’s birthday. (Ask your teacher for ideas.)
  • Purchased items must be received at the center in the original sealed containers.
  • Fresh fruits and vegetables must be properly washed at the Head Start Center (supervised by the teacher or assistant).
  • If you choose to provide healthy birthday snacks, remember that it must be purchased rather than homemade and in its original unopened packaging.

“This institution is an equal opportunity provider.”

In accordance with federal civil rights law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) civil rights regulations and policies, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex (including gender identity and sexual orientation), disability, age, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity. Program information may be made available in languages other than English. Persons with disabilities who require alternative means of communication to obtain program information (e.g., Braille, large print, audiotape, American Sign Language), should contact the responsible state or local agency that administers the program or USDA’s TARGET Center at (202) 720-2600 (voice and TTY) or contact USDA through the Federal Relay Service at (800) 877-8339. To file a program discrimination complaint, a Complainant should complete a Form AD-3027, USDA Program Discrimination Complaint Form which can be obtained online at: https://www.usda.gov/sites/default/files/documents/USDA-OASCR%20P-Complaint-Form- 0508-0002-508-11-28-17Fax2Mail.pdf, from any USDA office, by calling (866) 632-9992, or by writing a letter addressed to USDA. The letter must contain the complainant’s name, address, telephone number, and a written description of the alleged discriminatory action in sufficient detail to inform the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights (ASCR) about the nature and date of an alleged civil rights violation. The completed AD-3027 form or letter must be submitted to USDA by:

  1. Mail:
    • U.S. Department of Agriculture Office of the Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights 1400 Independence Avenue, SW Washington, D.C. 20250-9410; or
  2. Fax:
    • (833)256-1665 or (202) 690-7442; or
  3. Email:
    • program.intake@usda.gov

This Institution is an equal opportunity provider.