Green Focus

Meal Program

Our whole foods program plays an important role in nourishing your child both inside and out. We encourage children to enjoy food, learn to listen to their bodies, and form a healthy relationship to food. The children’s meals, made from scratch in our kitchen, are rich in whole grains, a variety of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables and high quality lean protein such as chicken, turkey, beans/legumes, eggs, tofu, soybeans, tuna, and seeds. Our food is cooked with high quality plant oils such as extra virgin olive oil, canola oil and sesame oil. The major goals of our food program include:

Exposing children to a variety of healthful foods. We believe that it is important for children to be exposed to whole foods early in life. We hope that this will set the stage for lifelong healthy living. Criteria of a healthful food: Minimally processed food that grows and can be found in nature such as plant and animal foods. This excludes highly processed foods and those not found in nature such as high fructose corn syrup and non-food chemicals applied to food such as pesticides.

Reducing the risk of preventable disease such as hypertension, type-2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease and multiple cancers. Obesity contributes to all of the above conditions. Diets high in fiber and low in refined sugars have shown to be protective against constipation, cardiovascular disease, cancers, obesity and diabetes. Fiber is found in whole grains, beans, seeds, nuts, fibrous fruits, vegetables and sea vegetables.

Reducing common childhood illnesses such as recurring ear infections by boosting immunity. The vitamins and minerals found in whole foods are essential to providing the body with the tools it needs to perform at an optimal level. With the significant growth that occurs in childhood, nutrition is vital and can have both short and long term effects. In addition to vitamins and minerals, plant foods contain important phytonutrients, such as antioxidants, which protect the body from oxidative damage that can lead to disease. Whole foods provide all of the components necessary to properly metabolize and utilize its beneficial nutrients.

Our program aims to be as organic and sustainable as possible. Why is eating organic so important? The reasons are numerous! Organic farming, which also has a degree of sustainability, is the true way of farming with a variety of crops and nutrient rich soil. The soil is kept rich by being nourished with healthy matter such as compost and bacteria. An organic farm has a healthy balance of beneficial insects. Sustainable farming will give back more to the environment than it takes. The methods of organic farming promote sustainability.

All of the meat, dairy, eggs, fruits, vegetables and whole grains on our menu are organic. Many of our suppliers are local companies that are passionate about their products.

Special Diets

If your child has any food allergies and/or restrictions, please make certain that the office and cook is fully informed of the special dietary requirements. This information is required in the initial enrollment forms and must be updated immediately, in writing, if there are any changes. This dietary/allergy information is posted in the kitchen and the child’s classroom to ensure that appropriate food is provided to your child. Our in-house nutritionist is happy to work closely with you to meet your child’s datary needs such as vegan, vegetarian, or other alternative diets at no extra cost.