Preschool Day

Care Center:
Preschool aged
children

AIDYN ALVAREZ QUINTANA

CLAIR LAUFKETTER
FABIOLA QELEMENI
FABIOLA DELIVRANCE

https://texaschildcaretraining.com/course/how-to-care-for-children-with-food-allergies-2019/
Introduction

◼ The purpose of this presentation is to review and assess the current menu that is being served to 4-year-old preschool
children at both San Carlos Learning Center and at KinderCare.  We will be examining the menus to determine if they
are healthy and meet the nutritional needs of a four-year-old. 
◼ We will be comparing the difference between the two facilities as far as location and demographics to identify
resources available within that community.
◼  A single day's sample menu will be created with healthier food options and will be compared to both the other menus.
◼ We will be discussing the possible barriers that could be hindering these facilities from providing healthier meals to
our 4-year-old preschool children. 

Menu analysis of
Kindercare Learning
Center (Ponte Vedra)
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E Sun Butter & Jelly Sandwich**
 
◼ Breakfast
Oatmeal & Blueberries                           
Granola & Pears
Scrambled Eggs & Orange Slices
Bagel & Peaches
Toasty-Os Cereal
◼ Lunch
Ravioli & Spinach Salad
Cheese or Veggie Burger* with Broccoli & Potato Wedges
Chickpea Biryani with Brown Rice & Greens Beans
BBQ Chicken or Sun Butter & Jelly Sandwich** with Green Beans & Corn
Fish Sandwich or Grilled Cheese* with Cucumbers & Apples
◼ Afternoon Snack
Hummus & Pita Bread
Bananas & Yogurt
Celery Sticks & Cheese Cubes
Cheese Crackers
* We always provide a vegetarian option.
** We take care to not serve common allergens and can adapt menus based on your child’s allergies
or food sensitivities.
 ◼ Breakfast
Pancakes with mixed fruit and sausage
Menu Analysis of Chex mix cereal (whole grain) with banana
Oatmeal (whole grain) with peaches
San Carlos Cheese grits with mandarin Oranges
Learning Center Cheerios (whole grain) with apples
(Riverside)
◼ Lunch
Breaded chicken nuggets with baked beans, banana, and whole wheat bread
Breaded Fish Sticks with veggies (corn, okra & tomatoes), tropical fruit, and whole
wheat bread
Meat balls with gravy, mashed potatoes, mixed fruit, and whole wheat bread
BBQ chicken with sweet peas, oranges, and whole wheat bread/black bean rice
Chicken Salad sandwich on a hamburger bun, with green beans, and pineapples

◼ Afternoon Snack
Goldfish crackers and apple sauce 
Perzels and apple juice
Cheddar cheese crackers and banana
Ritz Bitz crackers and apples
French Toast and Mixed Fruit

*3-5 year olds get 6oz of 1% milk with breakfast and lunch*

Childhood Nutrition

 For this project, we selected two preschool menus. The goal of

this project and study is to compare the nutritional values of
the foods served in the school cafeteria to the students. This
presentation is a comparison and study of two preschools and
the nutritious food choices available in their cafeterias.
 Healthy eating habits in childhood and adolescence are critical
for proper growth and development as well as the prevention
of a variety of health problems. The 2020–2025 Dietary
Guidelines for Americans external icon recommends that
people aged 2 and up consume a balanced diet that includes
the following foods: a large range of fruits and vegetables,
whole grains, fat-free and low-fat dairy products, several
protein foods, and oils are all healthy sources of omega-3 fatty
acids ("Childhood Nutrition Facts", 2021).
A comparison of the San Carlos and KinderCare menus

◼ Both preschools have a written weekly to demonstrate that preschool meals and snacks fulfill the criteria for each age
group.
◼ Flavored milk is not allowed to be consumed in both preschools. Only one preschool meal or snack per day may
include pasteurized full-strength juice as a vegetable or fruit portion in both menus.
◼ Both fruit and vegetable juices, frozen pops made entirely of juice, pureed fruits and vegetables in smoothies, and juice
made entirely of canned fruit are all considered juice.
◼ Both preschools don’t serve sweet crackers more than twice a week.
◼ Breakfast consists of one serving of milk, one serving of vegetables, fruits, or both, and one serving of grains in both
schools.
◼ Both Preschools serve their foods in small, manageable bites to minimize the risk of chocking.
A comparison of the San Carlos and KinderCare menus

◼ Comparing both preschool's menu, I learned that they both are in a unique position to educate students about safe eating
practices and inspire them to follow them. Breakfast consumption is associated with enhanced cognitive function
(particularly memory), reduced absenteeism, and improved mood. Adequate hydration can also help children and
adolescents enhance their cognitive function, which is essential for learning.
◼ Daily dietary guidelines (nutrition standards) for calories, saturated fat, trans fat, and sodium are not included in the
preschool meal patterns. Preschool meal plans, on the other hand, provide nutrient guidelines for some foods, such as
sugar limits for yogurt and breakfast cereals, as well as minimum protein requirements for tofu (“Menu Planning Guide
for Preschoolers”, 2020).
◼ Both preschools participates in federal school meal services, such as the National School Lunch Program external icon
and the School Breakfast Program external icon, which offer meals to students. The US Department of Agriculture
external icon and state agencies manage these services, which reimburse schools for providing healthy meals to
students.
A comparison of the San Carlos and KinderCare menus

◼ San Carlos preschool serve fried chicken nuggets once a week, which are unhealthy for children of this age. I would much
rather have a nutritious lunch for my daughter.
◼ San Carlos preschool serves sausage for breakfast. As we have learned, sausage is not a healthy breakfast choice, and
serving it to the children at both preschools is optional. Sausage will greatly increase the risk for different disease.
◼ Whole grain reach crackers are served at both preschools
◼ After reading the KinderCare Preschool menu, I found that their snacks are much healthier than those offered by San
Carlos. Hummus and pita bread, bananas and yogurt, celery sticks, and cheese cubes are all available.
◼ KinderCare Preschool teachers and chefs are masters at exposing children and their emerging palates to the wonderful
world of tastes, and we've double-checked that our latest recipes are kid-approved by checking them at a few select centers
first.
◼ In addition to San Carlos, Kinder Care Preschool offers a healthier breakfast consisting of oatmeal with blueberries,
granola, pears, and eggs.
Comparing the Menus

San Carlos KinderCare

◼ Analyze the menus that the team has selected based 
on the following criteria and provide rationales for 
your analysis:  
◼ Healthy/unhealthy menu selections with  rationale  
◼ Appropriate for nutritional requirements of age 
group with rationale  
◼ The influence of cultural and regional food 
practice with rationale  
Sample Menu

◼ Create a one‐day replacement sample menu of meals  with healthier choices for each original menu.  Include:  

◼ Breakfast, lunch, and dinner options.  
◼ Age considerations, potential health concerns,  cultural influences, and regional patterns.  
◼ Nutritional components of your food choices.  
◼ Explanation of why the sample menus are  better nutritional options for both facilities.  
◼  2 reference citations
San Carlos Menu vs.
Sample Menu ◼ Compare each original sample menu with its 
corresponding replacement menu  
◼ Explain why the team’s menus are better 
nutritional options for your two facilities.  

◼  Provides at least two references 
1st here
KinderCare vs. Sample
Menu ◼ Compare each original sample menu with its 
corresponding replacement menu 
◼  Explain why the team’s menus are better 
nutritional options for your two facilities. 

◼  Provides at least two references  
2nd here
Barriers 

San Carlos: Riverside KinderCare: Ponte Vedra

◼ Includes three or more barriers to optimal  ◼ Includes three or more barriers to optimal 
 nutritional value of meal plans   nutritional value of meal plans  
Summary 
◼ What have you learned about the population and 
their nutritional needs?  
◼  How will completing this assignment influence your
nursing practice? 
 Reference

◼ Childhood nutrition facts. (2019, September 6). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
https://www.cdc.gov/healthyschools/nutrition/facts.htm
◼ (2020, November). CT.GOV-Connecticut's Official State Website.
https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/SDE/Nutrition/NSLP/Preschool/MPGpreschool.pdf