What is fed in American kindergartens: the experience of an immigrant from Russia
'24.06.2021'
Source: Yandex.Zen
Posted by That American Life on Yandex Zen talked about what menu is offered to children in American kindergartens.
Most American kindergartens that have a kitchen offer menus consistent with the Federal Nutrition Program for Adult and Child Care Facilities. The program was created in 1968, but the requirements for a set of products have changed several times throughout its existence. The latest such reforms were carried out in October 2017.
Food composition and energy values are based on the Diet Guidelines for Americans US National Academy of Medicine. In accordance with these standards, food and snacks should include a wide variety of vegetables and fruits, enough whole grains, and there should be less added sugar and saturated fat in foods and dishes.
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Further, using the example of a menu of an American kindergarten that my nephew visits, I propose to consider how all of the above recommendations work.
The total cost of a 5-day stay for one child in this kindergarten is $ 257, but discounts may apply depending on the number of children in the family and income. There are three meals a day: breakfast at 9:00, lunch at 12:30, afternoon tea at 16:00.
With the help of a special application, parents are informed about what the child is doing during the day, including describing his menu and appetite.
In addition to the items that will be listed below, children are given plenty of milk and make sure they drink enough water. At least one serving (per child per day) that contains cereals should be made from whole grains.
And now for the weekly menu:
Monday
- Breakfast: cereal with milk, sliced apple.
- Lunch: hot cheese sandwich, vegetable salad, pear, sliced.
- Snack: yogurt, granola (rolled oatmeal, nuts, honey).
Tuesday
- Breakfast: bagels (baked goods like bagels), banana, milk.
- Lunch: chicken sandwich in a barbecue sauce, coleslaw, pineapple slices, milk.
- Snack: pretzel or pretzel (a type of German pretzel), applesauce.
Wednesday
- Breakfast: toast with cinnamon, baked apples, milk.
- Lunch: salad with canned salmon and pasta, carrots, slices of pears, milk.
- Snack: cheese and crackers.
Thursday
- Breakfast: cereal with milk, apple slices.
- Lunch: chicken with rice and broccoli, peach wedges, milk.
- Snack: salted crackers, pineapple wedges.
Friday
- Breakfast: English muffin, orange slices, milk.
- Lunch: a sandwich with turkey and cheese, a salad with cabbage, applesauce, milk.
- Snack: milk with cookies.
After ~ 2-2,5 years, children are not spoon-fed - they are encouraged to eat on their own. Of course, if the child has problems or the caregiver notices malnutrition, he will always help, but in other cases he will just follow the process and not interfere.
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Milk, which is fed to children from 2 to 5 years old, should be non-fat or with a low percentage (1%) of fat content. Fried food is not prepared in the kindergarten kitchen. The amount of sugar in biscuits, granola, fruit yogurt and other sweets must meet the standards. For example, in 100 g of dry cereal, no more than 21,2 g of sucrose and / or other type of sugar is allowed.
Of course, this is just one example of a menu, and it varies slightly depending on the kindergarten, season, area, etc., but I think you could make an approximate picture for yourself.
Original column published on the blog. That American Life on Yandex Zen
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