Serving Healthy Plates with Food Gatherers at Perry Nursery School

Posted: Aug 31, 2012 at 9:50 AM [Aug 31, 2012]

If you visit Perry Nursery School during a meal or snack time, this is what you will see: 96 three- and four-year-olds eating nutritious and interesting foods. All meals are served “family style,” which means the children sit a table with a teacher, serve their own food from bowls/dishes being passed, and engage in table conversation. It’s a fabulous site!

The cook at Perry Nursery has quite a challenge – to serve 288 meals/snacks a day to picky preschoolers (many with food allergies as well). Yet because of the organizations that supply Food Gatherers with food, we are able to provide interesting food options that help to reduce the “picky eater syndrome.” Where else will you see preschoolers eating brie and flaxseed crackers for a snack and crab cakes for lunch?

Studies show that good nutrition is vital for proper brain/body development. Unfortunately, not all children at Perry Nursery have had the opportunity for reliable nourishment prior to their enrollment. Thank goodness for Food Gatherers! Without the food they supply to our program, many of our children would not be developing properly. As a matter of fact, many parents have shared that if it weren’t for the meals provided at Perry Nursery, their children would not be getting adequate amounts of nutritious food.

Thank you, Food Gatherers, for helping us give these “at-risk” children a chance for future social, emotional and academic success!

This article was originally featured at the Food Gatherers blog. The author, Sandy Williams, is the Development Director at Perry Nursery School, a Food Gatherers partner agency. Perry Nursery School prepares at-risk preschool children for future academic and social success while providing their parents opportunities for professional, personal and parental growth. Learn more about Food Gatherers’ partner agencies here.