Celebrations that Support Child Health

Honoring special occasions with students and staff is an important part of building community within a classroom. Have you ever stopped to think about how many celebrations occur during the school
year? From birthdays to holidays, these events can add up quickly. It's important to make sure that your celebrations reflect the same healthy messages you promote elsewhere throughout the school day.
In fact, school celebrations can be an opportunity to reinforce messages about good nutrition and health when they include healthy foods and beverages and provide opportunities for kids to dance, play games and engage in sports.

Some of our favorite suggestions include using non food rewards, such as:

· Stickers

· Rulers

· Bookmarks

Use these in lieu of sweet treats, and try swapping in plenty of healthy party food. Think more fruit kabobs and nut butters and less cookies and cupcakes.

cacfp.org

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Chicken Pepper Popper

Ingredients

1 (10 oz) can chicken breast, drained

· 4 oz low-fat cream cheese

· 1/2 cup plain Greek yogurt

· 1/2 tsp paprika or smoked paprika

· 1 cup canned corn kernels

· 1 cup diced bell peppers

· 60 (4-inch x 1/2-inch) celery sticks

Directions

1. In a large bowl, mix all ingredients together until well combined. Serve 1/4 cup of the chicken pepper popper mix with five celery sticks. Makes 12 servings.
2. One serving provides 3/4 oz eq meat/meat alternate and 1/2 cup vegetable.

cacfp.org

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Self-Care with Rosita and Ricardo | #ComingTogether

Military families can also feel the impact of racism. Rosita and Ricardo explain how sometimes self-care can be the first step toward racial justice when handling big emotions.

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Nutrition Nuggets : Identifying Gluten Free Foods in the CACFP

What is Gluten? In the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP), gluten is a protein found in some grains such as wheat, barley, rye and malt. Children with celiac disease or a gluten intolerance cannot eat foods containing gluten. Gluten causes damage to the lining of the small intestine in individuals with celiac disease. Here are three tips on identifying gluten free foods:

• Check the ingredient statement. Avoid foods that contain wheat, rye, barley and malt. Other gluten containing ingredients to look for include durum, graham flour, hydrolyzed wheat protein, modified wheat starch, semolina and malt extract or syrup, among others. Quick tip: Ingredients can change over time so check the label for gluten containing ingredients every time you buy a product. You can also contact the manufacturer to confirm.
• Look for foods labeled as gluten free. Only foods that meet the Food & Drug Administration’s definition for gluten free can be labeled as gluten free. Quick tip: Wheat free does not mean gluten free.
• Know which foods commonly contain gluten. Many common foods such as breads, breaded meats, cakes, cereals, cookies, crackers, pasta and pizza often contain gluten. Other foods that may contain gluten but are not as obvious include taco seasoning, soy sauce, salad dressing or even hot dogs and deli meats. That’s why it is so important to check the ingredients!

Are there whole grains that are also gluten free? Serving at least one of the grain requirements as whole grain rich is still doable for a gluten free diet! Whole grains that do not naturally contain gluten include whole grain rich corn, brown rice, some oats and other grains that are less commonly eaten like sorghum, teff and quinoa. Foods that are generally gluten free are:

• Plain beef, pork, lamb and turkey
• Plain fish and shellfish
• Plain fruits and Vegetables
• Plain beans
• Some yogurts
• Eggs
• Milk
• Nuts and seeds

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Using Observation to Guide Your Teaching

Observation is at the heart of early childhood assessment and is a key guide in how teachers support children. It includes gathering, recording, and reflecting on information about children’s progress. Quality observations communicate each child’s individuality and context: because every child has strengths, interests, and experiences connected to their unique home and community contexts, it makes sense that observations and other assessments should provide a comprehensive view of who each child is, what they know, and what they can do.

Effective teachers intentionally watch and listen to children—whether during a daily routine or a planned activity, on a particular day, and over time. Sometimes, we can tell a teacher is observing by what they say. 

During our visits, we often hear a teacher share things like

•  “Jamal is starting to recognize the letters in his name. Today he pointed to an A in a book and said, ‘That’s MY letter.’”
•  “Marisu has incredible balance. Did you see how long she stood on one foot today?!”
•  “Jacintha made up another song while she was in the dramatic play center today. She comes up with the most wonderful melodies.”

Other times, we can tell a teacher is observing by their documentation. Teachers use anecdotal records, audio and video recordings, checklists and rating scales, and other means to document children’s learning and growth. Documentation can be reviewed, reflected on, and used to make decisions, including the next steps in planning for a group and for individual children.

Read more, here.

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Chef Lily’s Tip: Lime It Up!

Watch Chef Lily’s video learn to experiment with combining familiar tastes with unfamiliar ones.

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website

Happy Thanksgiving.

LOCATION

421 Executive Court North

Fairfield, CA 94534-4019

(707) 863-3950

Website