Nutrition Department provides nutritious meals and snacks to infants and children in Head Start

Our Alta Head Start Nutrition Department implements and executes the CACFP (Child and Adult Care Food Program). CACFP is federally funded by the United States Department of Agriculture and administered by the Ohio Department of Education. The purpose of the Nutrition Department is to provide nutritious meals and snacks to infants and children in Head Start.

According to the Head Start Performance Standards, Head Start is required to provide foods that are low in sugar, salt and fat. Depending on the class the child attends, he or she will receive some combination of breakfast, lunch and/or snack. Children in a full-day setting receive 2/3 of their daily requirements, and children in a part-day setting receive 1/3 of their daily requirements.

Dietary issues, such as food allergies, are handled on an individual basis.  Exceptions are made for religious preferences. We provide family-style meal service at each meal offered.  The staff interact and engage in conversation with the children during the meal service. This reinforces discussion not only about food but also language, science and math. Meal times establish good hygiene habits. The children are to wash their hands before eating and they are to brush their teeth after meals. At Head Start, ideas of how food contributes to good health are reinforced.