Community Action, Inc. of Central Texas promotes child wellness by providing nutrition services that supplement and complement those of the home and community. Head Start’s child nutrition services assist families in meeting each child’s nutritional needs and in establishing good eating habits that nurture healthy development and promote life-long wellness. A few ways Community Action meets the needs of their enrolled children is by:
Identifying each enrolled child’s nutritional needs.
Following the USDA’s Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) meal patterns and standards.
Educating teachers and kitchen staff about CACFP as well as Community Action’s nutrition policies and procedures.
Providing nutrition education and information to families.
Monitoring and evaluating kitchens and mealtime in classrooms.
Children that go to Early Head Start and Head Start are given a balanced breakfast, lunch and snack every day. Leisurely meal times provide opportunities for the development of positive attitudes toward food, rich conversations and the development of social skills. Meal time is also when our children have the chance to work on development of muscle control and hand-eye coordination.
The Program Nutritionist is responsible for the following:
Writing menus, managing kitchens, hiring and training staff.
Providing nutrition education and counseling to children and parents in Early Head Start and Head Start Programs
Implementing food service that uses funds from the USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program.
Maintaining compliance with local and state food safety regulations, CACFP standards, Head Start and Child Care Licensing Standards.
Interested in Nutrition Services? Families are encouraged to participate by:
Providing feedback on menus.
Assisting with classroom nutrition activities
Reviewing nutrition program policies and procedures
