Family Style Dining In Child Care Centers

Both family style meals and ovs are types of meal service and there are some key differences between the two.

Family style dining in child care centers.

Family style dining is a meal service approach that early care and education programs implement to address childhood obesity prevention and support children in developmentally appropriate mealtime experiences. There is no magic but family style dining helps with child development as it connotes everyone sitting together at a table serving themselves and sharing thoughts. Children as young as one start to participate in family style dining in their individual classrooms. Staff and children sit at child sized tables sharing in a relaxed mealtime experience that allows children based on their individual development to take part in the entire meal from setting the table to cleaning up.

Family style dining in a child care setting can make mealtime a fun and learning expereince. Family style dining is a meal service approach that early care and education programs implement to address childhood obesity prevention and support children in developmentally appropriate mealtime experiences. Family style meal service is an optional type of meal service that allows children and adults to serve themselves from communal platters of food with assistance from supervising adults if needed. Family style dining is an integral part of the daily routine at joint base langley eustis jble child development program in virginia.

All foods that meet the meal pattern requirement are placed on the table where children and adults sit together to share the meal. Family style dining tips. All foods that meet the meal pattern requirement are placed on the table where children and adults sit together to share the meal. Preparing and serving meals in child care centers involves some up front planning.

First food components in family style meals are self served by the child or adult participant while food components in ovs are pre portioned or served directly by the provider or supervising adult. Self service fosters independence and empowers children to feel in control of their choices thus eliminating power struggles. Normally the atmosphere is calm and promotes unity. It involves sitting at the same table with young children in small groups with the children serving themselves when possible and eating together with adults while sharing pleasant conversations.

By carefully planning which foods you serve at breakfast lunch dinner and snacks from day to day and week to week you can ensure a variety of healthy nutritious tasty meal options that the children at your facility will look forward to eating.