Building Healthy Bodies and Adventurous Palates 

Food as the Heart for Learning, Culture, and Community

At Martha’s Table, we strongly believe that food is essential. The meals in our Early Childhood Education program are made with care and intention. This thoughtful approach helps children grow up with healthy bodies, adventurous tastes, and strong cultural ties.

“We know children are more likely to eat and enjoy foods that look like what they are eating at home. But food is also a profound expression of culture; it’s a way for us to signal to children that their heritage and home traditions belong here, too.” – Mallory Mpare-Quarles, Deputy Chief of Health & Wellness

Meeting High Standards: Nutrition on a Plate 

Our fresh meals, prepared onsite, meet the strict requirements of the Child and Adult Care Food Program. We offer a wide, healthy variety, including abundant fruits and vegetables, and focus on whole grains and lean proteins, carefully limiting added sugars and saturated fats. Program favorites include:

• Breakfast: Oatmeal, turkey bacon, pancakes, veggie frittatas, and yogurt with fruit.
• Lunch: Whole wheat pasta bolognese, mac and cheese, and chickpea masala.
• Snacks: Fruit, string cheese, yogurt, sunflower butter on graham crackers, and newer introductions like hummus.

“The goal is to provide children with healthy and nutritious food for breakfast, lunch, and snack every day. They are happy to see me in the morning, and they let me know when they like the food. Right now, favorite meals include chicken pesto, chickpea masala, and baked french toast with turkey sausage.” – Sharon Cox. Director of Culinary Services.

 

Creating a Lasting Impact: Beyond the Plate

Mealtimes are an important component of a child’s social development, offering a daily opportunity to practice essential skills like expressing preferences, taking turns, and building a sense of community. By focusing on culturally centered, nutritious food, we are teaching children to develop an adventurous palate and a love for many different types of foods. 

We ensure nutrition is a full-circle experience by actively encouraging children to try new foods, involving children in food preparation to help them understand the effort and process required to make a meal, and extending healthy habits beyond the classroom by providing families with daily to-go fruit options and bags of fresh fruit and produce each month.

Providing nutritious meals and encouraging healthy eating habits is just one part of the work we do.

Learn more about our holistic approach to prioritizing health and wellness across our programs at Martha’s Table

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