nutrition

Nutrition education is one of the components of our program. We continue to educate ourselves and others in the preparation of well-balanced meals and children are encouraged to try new foods. Although children usually have food preferences, often a fruit or vegetable in a different form or consistency will be appealing to them. Food is never denied to a child as a form of punishment or redirection.

At the Preschool, meal and snack times are pleasant, social learning experiences for children. Conversation is encouraged, self-help skills are fostered and good nutrition habits are promoted. Parents are invited to join their children for lunch whenever possible.

Snack
A mid-morning (Morning Program) and mid-afternoon (Afternoon Enrichment) snack will be served daily. One of the traditions that Bel Air Presbyterian Preschool has maintained throughout the years is the ability for a family to volunteer to bring snack for the classroom as much as they would like. We find that children enjoy sharing with their friends in this way.

Each classroom has a snack calendar and menu for snack sign-ups. The snack calendar is pre-printed with the snack we request for you to bring that day. The snack calendar is planned in accordance with the nutritional requirements set by the State of California and NAEYC as well as a rotation of different foods and food groups. 2% Milk will always be provided by the school. Due to increasing occurrences of peanut butter allergies, we ask that you not bring a snack with any nut products in it.

Lunch
Children who are in the Afternoon Enrichment program must bring a lunch to school. Lunches are to be provided by the parents. A nutritious, well-balanced lunch is very important not only to a child’s physical growth but to a child’s social adjustment as well. Foods cannot be reheated or refrigerated, so we ask that cold lunches are equipped with a cold or ice pack and that warm lunches are insulated with either a hot pack or a thermos. Please be sure that your child has a drink with their lunch, please be sure that all lunch boxes and other reusable containers are labeled with your child’s name and please do not pack soda or candy for your child.

The following is a list of lunch box suggestions:
• Sandwiches (one half will usually do): tuna, cold-cuts, cottage cheese, cheese, egg salad, ham spread, butter & honey.
• For a change: yogurt, cheese on crackers, ham and cheese chunks, boneless cold chicken chunks, tortilla with melted cheese, spaghetti (in a thermos), soup (in a thermos), cheesy rice (in a thermos).
• Vegetables & Fruit: broccoli, cauliflower, celery sticks, oranges (sliced), bananas, mixed fruit, apples, pears, grapes (cut up), melon.
• Drinks: milk, natural fruit juice (i.e.,apple, orange, pineapple) water.
• Miscellaneous Goodies Kids Love: raisins, graham crackers, pretzels, variety of chips.

NUT-FREE ENVIRONMENT
Bel Air Presbyterian Preschool is a Nut-Free Environment. Due to increasing occurrences of potentially fatal nut allergies in some children, we require that you abstain from bringing lunch or snack items for your child or for the class containing any nut product(s). In some cases, mere airborne exposure to nut products can lead to potentially fatal reactions. Some of these food products include but are not limited to:

• Peanut butter crackers or sandwiches
• Bags of nuts
• Trail mix or granola with nuts
• Candy with nuts
• Peanut butter cookies
• Carrot cake with nuts
• Almond butter

Thank you for your understanding and cooperation in keeping all of our children healthy and safe.