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711 W. Montgomery St., Sparta, WI 54656 | 608-269-2271
Hours: Monday - Friday 6:00am - 5:30pm
Cook's Corner
What's Cookin' in the Kitchen?
Trained Staff
Our Cook & any Kitchen Staff at GROWING STARS CDC receive annual mandatory training of at least 4 hours in kitchen sanitation, food handling & nutrition. We look forward to our Cook making delicious, nutritious meals for us everyday!
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As caregivers we make sure we provide healthy, nourishing meals and understand that it is a child's roll to decide whether and how much to eat.
All food is prepared on the premises. We follow USDA guidelines when preparing and planning our menus. Serving sizes will match age appropriate amounts as outlined in the USDA guidelines. Any changes or substitutions in the menu will be posted with the original menu.
GROWING STARS CDC refers to Healthy Bites: A Wisconsin Guide to Promoting Childhood Nutrition for recommendations on specific nutrition policies related to fruits, vegetables, whole grains, meats, meat alternates and beverages.
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More specifics can be found in our Policy & Procedures Handbook.
Meal Time
Meal time routines:
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We will provide breakfast, lunch, afternoon snack to all children in attendance at the times identified in the daily schedule.
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School-aged children will be offered an afternoon snack upon return from school.
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Children will eat family style and will be allowed to serve themselves.
Children will not be forced to eat; they will be encouraged to try new foods as appropriate. Meals will not be withheld as a form of punishment. To support development, we provide child-sized dishes and utensils. Children who attend during the early morning or late afternoon hours will be offered a snack to ensure that they never go without food for more than 3 hours.
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As caregivers we make sure the food we provide healthy, nourishing meals and understand that it is a child’s role to decide whether and how much to eat.
Socializing
Mealtimes will include meaningful conversation and will promote social interaction, encourage good table manners and develop sound nutritional habits.
Our staff model health eating behaviors in the presence of children, eating the same foods as children and refraining from eating or drinking unhealthy foods in front of children.
Often times, our staff spend time talking with children about healthy foods and nutrition. Children will be encouraged to clean up after themselves.