Food & Nutrition
Produce
We prioritize the use of produce to meet fruit and vegetable components of the children’s daily meals. Canned or frozen options are used very sparingly. Our goal is to use fresh options and explore new exciting ways of preparation and presentation to open up a child’s willingness to explore the possibility that vegetables do taste good.
YWCA Central Maine launched its Food & Nutrition Program for our childcare in 2017 to address children’s food insecurity in Lewiston and Auburn communities. We now provide up to two meals and one snack every day to children in our care.
Our mission is to provide equal access to fresh, healthy, well-balanced, culturally-appropriate, and delicious breakfast, lunches, and snacks each day, regardless of socioeconomic barriers.
In addition to addressing the immediate, short-term concerns of food insecurity for children and families, YWCA Central Maine’s Food & Nutrition programs also prioritize longer-term outcomes by introducing new foods to expand children’s food preferences.
Family Style Meal Service
Every day when afterschool children get off the bus; they are welcomed with a spread of nutritional food laid out for them on the table. Children and teachers sit and enjoy a moment of decompression before starting afterschool programing. The offering of a family style meal creates community among the children and creates time for teachers to get the scoop of how a child’s day is going. As sharing a meal together though out time and cultures is a universal tool in creating connections, we believe that in offering this time and space, we are helping children transition properly, make connections, and engage in the healthy benefits of access to nutrition.
Food Role Models
We believe that we are not just feeding children. We are offering fresh and well-planned meals that excite the children. Each plate is colorful, and the food is attractive in presentation. We believe that each of us who are interacting with children at mealtimes are food role models and our participation, language and attitude about the food are one of the key components in inspiring trust, curiosity and willingness for children to eat healthy food.
https://www.maine.gov/doe/schools/nutrition/nondiscrimination