Cacfp ppt 10.18.2011 final
- 1. Farm to Preschool Strategies for growing healthy children and communities Zoe Phillips, MPH; Rosa Romero, Master Gardener; Kristine Smith, RD; Ryan Reddy, Lead Teacher CACFP Roundtable conference – October 18, 2011
- 2. Farm to Preschool Program • Urban & Environmental Policy Institute, Occidental College • Goals: Influence early childhood eating habits and expand the Farm to School network of programs • Completed 2 year pilot, in expansion phase • Piloted in Los Angeles and San Diego counties, expanded to Hawai’i
- 3. Program Components • Nutrition and garden curriculum • Experiential learning • Local food sourcing • Parent outreach and workshops • Teacher trainings • Evaluation • Wellness policies • Demonstration training workshops and tours • Linkage to national network and website
- 4. Evaluation • Model: Quasi-experimental • Surveys: students, parents, teachers • 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 school years: over 700 children, over 180 parents • Barriers: time; age and cultural appropriateness • Best Practices: evidenced-based with control data; outside program evaluator
- 5. Evaluation: Results • Increased knowledge of fruits and vegetables • Increased knowledge of ‘local’ and ‘fresh’ • Increased willingness to try new fruits and vegetables • Trend towards preferring more fruits and vegetables, less likely to prefer unhealthy foods • Parents: Increased knowledge of farmers’ markets, healthy eating practices, reading nutrition labels, identifying obesity risk factors • Qualitative results: – students enjoyed fruit and vegetable taste tests – asked their families to make healthier purchases – more families shopped at farmers’ markets
- 6. Wellness Policies • Not required in childcare • Watered-down • Potential for sustainable improvements • Include language for farm to preschool components • Barriers: buy-in, not required • Best Practices: work with school administrators and childcare agencies
- 7. National Network • Developing a national Farm to Preschool/Farm to Childcare network • Website: www.FarmToPreschool.org • Farm to School model and resources – Nationally-based Farm to Preschool Subcommittee • Early stages: linking programs and resources; finding relevancy
- 8. Local Food Sourcing • Facilitate relationships with farmers, farmers’ markets, and food distributors • Source locally in meal and snack menus • Barrier: childcare follows various sourcing models • Best Practices: start small, realize budget is the bottom- line; volume and seasonality are key
- 9. Nutrition and Garden Education • Harvest of the Month nutrition curriculum – CA state developed program – Developed for K-12, modified preK version – Weekly lessons – Monthly taste tests – New topics: -Seasonal and local food system -Plant cycles through gardening
- 10. Harvest of the Month Weekly Lessons Monthly Taste Tests
- 11. Experiential Learning Gardening Farmers’ Market Fieldtrip Farmer in the Classroom Science Labs Art
- 12. Physical Activity • “Tutti-Fruiti” physical activity breaks with healthy eating themes • PA breaks increase concentration throughout the day • Ideal for during group and transitional times
- 13. Parent Outreach & Workshops • Workshops: nutrition, healthy food access, cooking demos, interactive activities, gardening, ‘promotora’ visits • Monthly parent newsletters • Field trips • CSA or market basket program
- 14. Contact Information Zoe Phillips, Program Manager Rosa Romero, Program Coordinator Urban & Environmental Policy Institute Occidental College, Los Angeles 323-341-5098/5090 phillipsz@oxy.edu or rromero@oxy.edu http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/
- 15. NHA’s Nutrition Services • The Team – 8 Food Service Assistants – 1 Milk Truck Driver – 2 Cooks – 1 Chef – 1 Food Service Manager – 1 Fiscal Analyst – 1 RD / Director of Nutrition Services • About 7,000 meals daily to 38 sites • 1.2 Million meals prepared in central kitchen last year
- 16. Our Menu • Unique – all foods made from scratch daily • Chef creates delectable flavors • RD ensures nutrient density • Disproves myth preschoolers don’t like “healthy” or “adult” food • 94% child approval rate last year • Teaching tool for parents and teachers • Coordinates with San Diego’s harvest seasons - Farm to Preschool - School gardens - Farm visits - Delicious and nutrient-dense produce
- 17. Our Menu
- 18. CACFP and Cooking from Scratch • Cyclic and seasonal menu - Create frequently used staples - County Farm Bureau may have harvest schedule - Provide annual schedule of produce needs to farmers • Standardized recipes - Proper ingredient nomenclature from FBG • Training for staff - Culinary - Nutrition - Food safety and sanitation
- 19. Sourcing Locally and Contracting • Contact county Farm Bureau to find farmers and markets • Build relationships with farmers – Shop at farmers’ markets in your city – Don’t be afraid to say, “Hi!” – Question them about their farm – Get their business card – Visit their farm • Define “local” – Within the County – Within “X” miles of your site
- 20. Talking to Farmers • Speak common “language” and be polite • Remember farmers may be limited with - Admin staff - Transportation - Technology • Tell them what you want/need but be flexible • Visit the farms you choose to work with • Invite farmers to your kitchen or classrooms
- 21. Contact Information Kristine Smith, RD Director of Nutrition Services Central Kitchen Neighborhood House Association kmsmith@neighborhoodhouse.org www.neighborhoodhouse.org
- 33. Contact Information Ryan Reddy Lead Teacher Children's Bureau of Southern California Wallis Annenberg Child Development Center Magnolia Place Preschool ryanreddy@all4kids.org www.all4kids.org