Module 7-Healthy Practices: Nutrition and Fitness

Module 7 Discussion Question: Healthy Menus

3/12/2015

How can you encourage students to be involved with meal preparation?

**When leaving your comment, be sure to use the same name and email address that you have registered with! Failure to do so may result in lost coursework!**

202 Comments

Miranda Jones

4/27/2015 05:12:50 am

I would ask students to help plan the menus for the month to get them interested in what snacks and meals were being served. I would also plan a cooking activity once a week for students to participate in. Even if they are just making their own snacks, that would be helpful and would get them involved.

Ann Zop

4/27/2015 05:15:35 am

To get students interested in meal preparation, I would divide them into small groups and let each group complete a different task or make something.

antionette griffin

9/25/2015 01:13:11 pm

I find it better it you divide the kids into groups, they become more social and interact with kids in their own age group,

Drew

5/10/2015 11:44:38 pm

Ways to have children be involved in meal preparation are, having helpers get the meal area ready, passing out supplies (forks, plates, cups, ect...). Depending on what is being served you could have children help was fresh fruits and veggies (if your center allows it.)
I have children help plan class parties with healthy favorite foods.

Kaitlyn

6/10/2015 03:47:59 pm

Make it fun and interesting. Divide the kids into small groups and have them each do there own task get them engaged in there foods activity

Brett Turner

6/11/2015 03:48:18 am

I would split up the children into equal groups and take votes on particular food items. I would also change up the menu daily to increase the variety of opinions on the food items.

Jessica Enebo

6/12/2015 08:46:25 am

The best way to get kids involved is to have them help plan the meal. One good way to do this is to have a simple cookbook they can go through and choose from.

cindy

6/13/2015 09:04:47 am

It will be awesome if we could make a menu book with lots of pictures to show to the children by end of the day to vote what they want for lunch the next day.

Ruth W.

6/17/2015 03:28:16 pm

Divide the kids into groups based on food group or required food groups for that meal. Then have them be responsible for picking a food from that food group that would go along with the meal for the next day. Every week they would rotate food groups.

Serena

6/26/2015 11:25:46 am

Maybe once or twice a week have the kids vote on favorite fruits, vegetables and meats and plan meals with these ingredients that are simple enough that the kids could help prepare them.

Kathryn Mills

7/1/2015 08:46:07 am

Have kids offer healthy suggestion for snacks, even come up with the menu for the week. Have a discussion about nutrition and food and allow them to figure out what foods are appropriate.

Mallery Luke

7/6/2015 09:59:48 am

I think it is important to get the children's feedback on the food they are being served, and to give suggestions on the food they want to be served. I encourage kids to help cook and bake things, and make it a fun experience for everyone. I also model healthy eating in my own lunches to inspire them to bring healthy food as well in their lunch boxes.

Emily

7/14/2015 03:03:21 am

when making food choices i always ask the kids what they think about food choices and what might be a better choice. and have them help prepare the food with supervision.

Jeremy

7/19/2015 12:57:13 pm

To get students interested in meal preparation, I would divide them into small groups and let each group complete a different task. Cleaning tables, passing out trays, etc

Shawna Calvert

7/20/2015 12:21:06 pm

I would like to have students help in the preparation of snacks. Our kids bring their own meals to the center.

Brooke

7/21/2015 06:56:12 am

I would get the kids involved by doing a group activity to see every ones favorites and least favorite foods. you can even have them help you make the menu. teach them about daily nutrition and how to have the right serving sizes.

Teraza

7/25/2015 11:17:36 am

1. having helpers get the meal area ready, passing out supplies (forks, plates, cups, ect...).
2. Depending on what is being served you could have children help was fresh fruits and veggies (if your center allows it.)

yvonne

7/26/2015 03:44:23 am

To encourage students to be involved in meal preparation is

have the kids help in passing out utensils, cups, plates,
pass out fruit depending on what it is
have the kids name a favorite snack of theirs, write it down then each week they can have a snack another child had said, make it fun.
clean tables before and after.

Delia Farrell

7/27/2015 04:35:13 am

I would have the children help pass out utensils,cups, plates,etc. Have another group clean the tables before a meal. During the meal they can all help make it, if its a hands on finger food meal and if not then we can have kids help after with cleaning up. The kids can also help pick meals for the next week by asking them what their favorite thing to eat was this week .

Saida C.

7/30/2015 11:58:54 am

A great way to get the kids involved with food preparation is to allow them to help set up the table for food. For example putting out the cups, plates, and utensils. Also at the end of the week make some time so the kids can get into groups and come up with some choices of what to have to eat the following week.

Victoria A Weaver

8/1/2015 08:18:35 am

We have children help with the set-up and clean-up before and after snack time. We also have a cooking unit, where the children learn how to prepare certain foods.

Taylor thames

8/2/2015 11:40:18 am

Ask my students if they knew where their food was coming from and ask them if they know how its prepared

karlee mcmanus

8/3/2015 12:27:13 pm

ways to get children involved in meal prep, is having them help set up have a person set the table, have another person in charge of getting chairs, have one person responsible for cleaning the tables and getting them ready for meal time. also another way is to have them help cook occasionally

Sherry

8/11/2015 01:55:29 am

I would ask the kids to help with planning the monthly menu. They can help wash the fruits and veggies. While wearing gloves the older kids can cut the fruits and veggies an put them on a serving tray.

kiera moore link

8/11/2015 05:52:05 am

Ways to involve children involved with meal prep would be to have them set the tables, pass out napkins and silverware, as well as plates and cups, this way they are not touching the food that will be served at but they are still contributing to the preparation.

Juliana Davis-Marxer

8/12/2015 05:30:56 am

We have kitchen helpers that help set up for breakfast and snack and help prepare the food as much as they're able, depending on what we are serving. As we set up and prepare food we talk about healthy eating options and different ways to cook different items.
We also do a cooking project once a week where the children are completely responsible for making the items (there is always adult supervision during these cooking projects)

Elise

8/21/2015 10:32:43 am

Children like to feel involved in these kinds of things, have them do simple things like using measuring cups to pass out portions. They can also help by passing out plates, cups, or napkins. Another idea is that each week someone can volunteer to bring something for the whole class. That way they can learn how to make food at home and can also enjoy sharing it with friends. By letting them get involved instead of just having them sit and wait, it can get them more interested in meal preparation.

Elena

8/25/2015 01:30:23 pm

Have kids participate in preparing the menu or the snack. They can prepare their own snack given certain ingredients, or create an activity where they help prepare the snack.

Alicia Dickson

8/25/2015 02:45:36 pm

We can include them in the menu planning, if it's safe to let them in the kitchen they can measure out things, cut easy simple fruits or veggies. Set the tables, set out plates, kitchen, and napkins. Stirring sauces can help get the children involved.

Mandy Taylor

8/29/2015 11:28:44 am

We could have charts showing what type of foods are in each group . Once a week have kids vote for each category for next week meals or snack . Always try to have kids help when it's safe .and always wash hands

Madison

9/5/2015 08:34:29 pm

At my job, we let students take turn each day who gets to help serve snack. We always try to make that part of the day as exciting as we can. Occasionally we do cooking/baking activities with the kids as well. When we do so, we go over nutrition and food groups.

maricella link

9/7/2015 05:47:24 pm

I would discuss meal planning ideas with students and choose a meal .then prepare and divide kids up in groups or depending on what we choose to make give each child a task to help prepare meal, cutting/stirring, washing and pouring.

Claudia Martinez

9/7/2015 11:59:39 pm

MAKE IT FUN! Have helpers:) Have it family style , where the children set their plates, choose their food, and all sit and eat together.

Zachary Scott

9/14/2015 09:53:52 am

It seems like a good way would be to just have them be around to help with little things sometimes during food preparation, or have them help plan meals and snacks. Also talking with them about things they can do at home with their family or for themselves. Discussions about what things that are healthy and what things they like/taste good to them.

Leah L'Rae Wonders

9/15/2015 02:22:25 pm

Getting them excited that they can help and have more responsibility is a huge bonus for kids. They love being able to do more, especially in the kitchen. I'd get them to wash their hands and explain to them about germs and food borne illnesses, etc. I'd give them appropriate tasks to do. If there were a lot of kids I'd ask for volunteers or split into smaller groups and have each group help with something such as washing fruits and veggies, mixing ingredients together, measuring and pouring ingredients and then if we had to cook on a stove I'd teach them about how to keep proper distance from hot items and appliances while still observing what is going on. I'd ask them questions along the way as to what they are observing, how it is changing from the beginning, what they think the food will taste like or look like after it is cooked, how they think the textures will change, etc. It can turn into a fun day while learning about food science!

Michael Eng

9/21/2015 02:37:42 pm

Give students the opportunity to help out with picking out and "serving" snack this way students have some ownership in what they are eating, but still putting limitations on the snack to meet healthy choices.

Elizabeth T Mason

9/23/2015 06:47:57 pm

Help them prepare the milk or pass out plates and utensils.

Olivia Margoshes

9/25/2015 05:17:29 pm

If you're provided food such as baby carrots or crackers, you could involve children by having them count out a specified number of each item for all the children. They could carry bowls and plates to the snack area, or pass out plates of snack to the others. When it is time to clean up, have them help collect and/or wash dishes. They could also be involved in the process of selecting which foods are served and on which days. If they have a say in what they eat, they are more likely to eat.

Emily

9/26/2015 10:57:56 am

We have several snacks coming up that are themed, and are to be arranged into a certain shape or image. For example, we'll be doing "Scarecrow Crackers" in the next few weeks. The children will get the ingredients, and get to put them together to make the face of a scarecrow. This is a fun way for kids to prepare snack, and can be done with healthy foods. Plus it doubles as a creative activity. Other simpler ways to get kids involved is to have designated helpers each day who help serve the snack, or who help prepare it. Getting input from the kids every week or month can be helpful, too. Discuss with them their favorite snacks from that week, and other things they like to eat that have not been served yet.

Robert Lee

9/26/2015 02:02:56 pm

At my center we have the kids set out plates and cups. We also sometimes ask some kids to help us distribute food. they then have to clean their own places before they can go.

Andre Graham

9/29/2015 03:00:18 pm

To get our youth interested in meal preparation I would definitely divide them into small groups; groups of about 4-6 for my location and let each group complete a different task. For example, one group would help prep the food, one one be in charge of cooking, and one would be in charge of serving.

Dillon Kramer

9/29/2015 08:45:36 pm

I allow them to help with set up of the snack area let them try to open cans of fruit with a can opener. i also will let them bring bowls to the table to start passing them around.

Ashleigh

10/4/2015 02:12:00 pm

A lot of school give free lunch to the "lunch helpers" which gets a lot of kids involved.

Katie Cook

10/6/2015 01:30:21 pm

I will ask anyone who wants to help pass out the supplies for the snack, like napkins, drinks and/or plates/bowls. I also give someone else a chance each snack period.

Robyn

10/18/2015 05:22:36 pm

We could involve them in menu planning. We can allow them to help set up for serving providing food handling rules are followed. They can also help with clean up after meals.

Meghan

10/22/2015 11:31:41 am

To get students involved we have helpers that help the teacher pass out plates/bowls/cups and help us count who would like what for the parts of snack offered-sometimes they help pass out food if it is easy & pre-packaged like mini bags of cheese-its or nutrigrain bars.

maranda morton

10/24/2015 02:23:12 pm

To get the children involved in meal time i would ask them for ideas for meal planning, have them set the table, and give them tasks to help that are age appropriate

Maria Loredo

10/25/2015 03:03:21 pm

In the program i work for we pick two snack helpers every week. Snack helpers pass out plate, bowls, utensils, juice, ect. The kids are always excited during this time and ask often to help during snack time.

Rachel Berry

10/28/2015 12:41:50 pm

Everyday I have a student help me with snack prep. They love it and we rotate who gets the honor each week. While I prepare the food and plates, the student hands out cups and sets up the area for dirty dishes. This gets everyone excited for snack. In the past, I have allowed two special times when the students got to help prepare their own food. I gave them plastic knives and they sliced their fruit. This also got them excited to eat.

Amanda

10/28/2015 09:04:57 pm

I think some great ideas to get children involved in meal planning is coming up with fun names for the food, like volcano nacho. Another idea is splitting the children in groups and have them compete who can make the best looking meals; this can be done by providing them certain ingredients and having all the groups use every single ingredient.

Natalie Rapp

11/15/2015 04:58:34 pm

A fun way to get children involved in food prep is to have them help with steps beginning to end. Let them wash veggies and fruits, measure and mix together ingredients. Show them what the measurements are. Help them follow along with the recipe. Have them observe what raw ingredients can become after applying heat, like putting a cake in the oven, etc. Incorporate a science lesson into the food!

Benjamin

11/17/2015 03:08:53 pm

The more students feel like their input is involved, the better. Meal preparation can be tied in with a unit on nutrition, and students can suggest meals that fit the nutritional guidelines. You can then have a few students each day assist in preparing and distributing the meals.

Dassah Ortiz

11/17/2015 10:52:33 pm

We could have students help prepare Snack. Ask them what their favorite snack is and least favorite. They could come up with new ideas for snack or help plan meals .

Amanda Phillips

11/18/2015 01:27:52 pm

You can have the children cut there own fruits, and spread their own peanut butter and jelly, and pour there own juice

Samantha

11/21/2015 02:05:30 pm

We have our kids serve themselves with the snacks and twice a week, we have students help prepare snacks/food in the kitchen.

Deana

11/27/2015 02:34:21 pm

Giving the children healthy choices instead of just serving up something gets more interaction I found. I teach young children so it's also fun for them to "assemble" a snack item like they can put their raisins on top of a peanut butter celery stick. Some children don't want the raisins and that's fine. The children always clean up their snack area afterwards.

Lorena martinez soto

11/27/2015 05:22:14 pm

once in a while we let the kids decide on the meal of the day but it has to contain vegetables, fruit and grains, we also let them get involved by helping out on putting the napkins in the table or handing out the cups.

Kayla

11/28/2015 05:25:36 pm

Having the kids in the kitchen is a really good way to get them motivated and is great for their confidence. It gives them a sense of responsibility and ownership, "they" made this meal. This was done because of "them".

Dylan

11/29/2015 04:21:35 pm

I would get them into small groups and I would have them sort and things and have them make something.

McKenzie Conner

12/1/2015 08:57:23 pm

Kids are really receptive to helping with meal preparation. Kids seem to be more eager to try new foods when they've helped in prep. Outlining clear directions before breaking into groups is helpful.

Kiara McCallum

12/4/2015 11:42:39 am

I can encourage kids to help with food preparation by making it a fun activity. Start a cooking club or have fun foods to make that kids would be interested in. Divide the kids up into small groups and give them each an assigned project to do so they have the hands on experience.

Breaunah Jacobs

12/6/2015 05:52:42 pm

At our program we encourage children to help with the food preparation by having cooking clubs! At least once a week a group of children are able to help prepare a snack all on their own (with a bit of adult guidance and help as needed). Each smaller group of children can be given a specific task within the recipe to make it all come together smoothly.

Mary Squiers

12/7/2015 02:58:47 pm

Our program has a cooking class each week. The simple theme changes and supervisors are always present. This gets the kids excited to make something of their own.

Patricia

12/8/2015 01:20:02 pm

Have the children help set the table, wash veggies, maybe pour milk, help with menu planning, going to the grocery store

Audrey Heeren

12/12/2015 09:43:31 am

We serve family style, so everyone helps themselves. The kids get their own plates, glasses, and utensils. In small groups, they could assist in preparing snacks after proper hand washing.

Rachel Davenport

12/12/2015 03:11:07 pm

Make it a reward. The kids who are trying to be on their best behavior will get picked to help with food prep.

Anamaria

12/15/2015 09:27:16 pm

to get kids interested in food preparation I would divide them into small groups and let each group complete a different task or make something.I would try and make it fun an interesting for the kids.

Gisella Santiago-Gronka

12/16/2015 01:13:58 pm

I just did this with my kids at our facility. I work with 9-11 year old children. We had a discussion about nutrition, different foods available to us, and utilizing the Food Pyramid and My Plate programs, we tried to figure out what foods were not just appropriate for us but delicious to us. Once we had our discussion we tried our best to keep a food journal chronicling what we at for one week. Then we planned a menu together and we had fun cookbook resources that I checked out from the library to help us. Once we figured out our menu and the date we were going to serve, I later went grocery shopping for the needed items over the weekend. When we got back together the children helped clean up the area, washed hands, split into groups and each group handled setting the table (passing out utensils/cups/plates), helped with meal prep, passing out the raw cut up fruits/veggies, cooking the meal, and sharing the meal family style. It was a huge success and a lot of fun. Afterwards we broke into groups to clean up and then discussed the food we served, gave suggestions on likes/dislikes and what we could have done differently or the same.

Emely

12/17/2015 11:24:48 pm

I would devide kids into different groups and give them each a different job, such as set up the table, pass plates around or even help with the food. kids always want to get their hands into stuff so it always works out.

Estefania

12/18/2015 12:49:15 am

Sepate them and have them help with snack, utensils and such

Stacy

12/20/2015 06:45:36 pm

Have them help with planning the menu

Amber Fitzgerald

12/26/2015 10:44:28 am

Have the kids get into groups, have some clean up and set up for snack/meal times, have another group help with meal prep, making sure everyone has a job to help out.

Desiree Price

12/28/2015 03:19:47 pm

Allow one child to set the table with plates/bowls, one to set forks, spoons, and/or knives (assuming that the knives are safe for children to handle and are appropriate for the meal), and one to set up cups for milk/water. Divide children into groups: veggies, fruit, meat, grains, and dairy, and have each group come up with five suggestions (if they can), this can be some of the food offered for the next couple of weeks. Allow them, if the center allows it, to wash the fruits and vegetables occasionally, and clean up after every meal. Have a lesson about the importance of a healthy diet and food safety.

Rebecca Pedersen

12/29/2015 02:41:16 pm

Help kids organize foods into food groups and choose some of their favorites. Help kids understand why each foods are important and give My Plate examples for meals. This way during lunch kids understand the food on their plate and the value they have when they eat it!

Katrina

12/29/2015 03:33:14 pm

Ask students if they have particular favorite dishes and make an activity out of preparing it.

James Over

12/30/2015 10:54:16 pm

Informing the kids you take care of, or are teaching, that colorful meals are essential, and junk food is seriously frowned upon, and even damaging to their health. Awareness goes along ways.

Cecilia

12/31/2015 03:49:29 pm

Some ways to include children are having them help pass out implements and utensils for eating, and put the serving bowls or pitchers on the table. We encourage them in giving feedback on what they like to eat and what they don't. We also have organized cooking activities, where they make their own food as a project. We talk about the food pyramid and why we eat certain foods.

Laura

1/1/2016 06:54:16 am

Setting the table, reading books about food and talking about food are all ways children can begin to engage in food preparation.

Andrea

1/3/2016 08:15:00 pm

i find it benefiting to get them to be encouraged to help with meal preparation to split them into small groups and have them complete a simple food task

Lindsay Lyon

1/3/2016 08:25:23 pm

I would get children involved by allowing them to pour the water and set out the cups on the table. Have the children set the table. Allowing the children to participate in food preparation during snack time, within reason and with safety in mind.

Shelby Kesterke

1/5/2016 09:09:47 am

I can encourage students to be involved in meal preparation by asking them the types of foods they like and having them help me prepare the food, by washing their hands, and rinsing off the foods. I also think having some sort of cooking activity would really get the students involved. Or reading a book about a certain food we could cook and make later.

rebecca arnold

1/13/2016 12:42:53 pm

have children discuss what are some of their favorite fruits meat juice or milk. they could help clean the fruit and veggies they can help serve food

Justyna Galaz

1/15/2016 12:15:27 pm

Have a special cutting tool for kids, kids aprons, have them wash there and hands and go into small groups to help prep food.

anitha

1/16/2016 10:13:24 pm

1.Make it fun and interesting
2.Setup and cleanup tables
3.Passing out plates, bowls, glasses and napkins
4.Divide the kids into groups to help prepare meal, washing and cutting fruits, veggies, pouring milk, juice whatever they want

David

1/20/2016 01:07:48 pm

Provide different meals for each student to prepare

Micaela Carroll

1/20/2016 01:45:42 pm

To get kids encouraged with meal prep, I let them help set the table and dish out food (as appropriate). We also talk about our food choices so when the food kids come in, they're open to helping because they know we will be talking about our food at meal times.

jennifer massengale

1/24/2016 11:09:09 am

we could have a big chart with each food group and let children take turns on picking items from each catagory

Sybil

1/25/2016 12:13:34 pm

Get them involved in cooking the meals - from measuring ingredients, chopping (with supervision), to sauteeing (again with supervision); talking about temperatures, etc. Also I've noticed how much some kids love to help clean or do dishes!

James

1/26/2016 07:30:14 am

Allow the kids to help with setting up the food like passing out utensils, napkins, cups and the food
Ask them what types of food they might like us to prepare one day and discuss the choices of healthy and unhealthy choices that can effect our bodies.

cynthia smith

1/26/2016 02:54:22 pm

Depending on the ages of the children, you can encourage them to go home and ask their parents/guardians if they can help: by setting the table, helping put some of the food items to be consumed on the table, help get food out of the refrigerator, wash fruits or veggies before you cut them.

Annika

1/27/2016 12:10:44 pm

How can you encourage students to be involved with meal preparation?

I can encourage students to be involved with meal prep by assigning them different jobs that are appropriate to age and interest. After snack we can all get involved by cleaning up the eating area.

Gabriel A

1/27/2016 12:27:41 pm

In order to get kids more involved with meal preperation, I would have them suggest meals they might want in advance, & have the kids vote. Also i would assign a certain preperation task to each kid or group of kids so that they can help prepare the food.

Carly

1/30/2016 04:32:22 pm

We can get students involved in meal preparation by giving them fun and healthy options to choose from. The kids in my program love putting on gloves and helping pass out snacks. We can teach kids about important food groups by having them help build a menu.

Molly B

1/31/2016 06:57:38 pm

I made a calendar at school for my kids and they are each signed up on a day to help pass out snack, they are excited to have this job,

Michael Chapman

2/6/2016 09:31:26 am

I would conduct an activity in which the kids would make a delicious, fun, and healthy snack and show them by taking a little time out of their day they can make these fun and healthy snacks at home and impress their families of what they can make.

Andrea Myers

2/8/2016 11:20:32 am

The children seem to always be interested in helping with meal prep. Just simply offering meal prep as an option for them will help the encouragement.

Alissa Wallace

2/8/2016 12:33:57 pm

In our program, we only serve snack due to our time of day that we provide care. Monthly, I set a calendar where each child gets to be the staff helper. However, in order to keep this job, they have to show good behavior. The look forward to helping with snack and being "staff helper".

Kay

2/8/2016 01:15:35 pm

The best way to get them involved is ask them what their favorite snacks are, and let them help prepare them.

Holly Rogers

2/8/2016 07:26:26 pm

Have some students prepare the places for snacks or meals by getting out the utensils and napkins and cups and places. Give them meals they can assemble - fruit, yogurt, and berries all poured together and stirred; cream cheese in celery with raisins for ants on a log; apples stacked on cheddar cheese and a cracker. If making guacamole, children can mash the avocado with a fork, pour in the tomatoes and spices and stir, for example.

Sarah Still

2/9/2016 08:52:09 am

I would have a group clean the area we are about to eat in. We have started a cooking club where we can assemble simple meals like trail mix or fruit kabobs together while wearing gloves, using proper hand washing, and clean materials.

PRIYANKA KUMARI

2/14/2016 09:37:31 am

By different ways as:
1.Helping in getting the meal area ready.
2.Passing out supplies (forks, plates, cups).

Rachel

2/17/2016 03:17:23 pm

Have them gather a cookbook and make there own cooking skills.

Brandi

2/18/2016 02:07:57 pm

Make it a fun activity. Have kids pick some healthy foods that they like. Find fun food creations that are healthy and have kids make their own.

Katharina Gees

2/22/2016 12:47:38 pm

The children at my center are fairly young so in order to include them in meal planning I will provide a nutritional information session for them and then ask them to write their favorite foods on strips of paper. I will draw the strips from a box or a hat and include one or two of these foods in the meal plan each day as appropriate. Choices like pizza or etc. will not be included, but special fruits like kiwis or different veggies like cherry tomatoes can easily be added to the menu.

Kammi

2/25/2016 06:33:20 pm

Getting kids in the kitchen is a huge first step. Even if it's as simple as setting the table, placing food dishes out, and talking about them before they even hit their plates. When it's appropriate having them help prep is awesome. My school age kids are always asking what they can do to help with breakfast.

Henry Moen

2/27/2016 08:46:03 pm

They can be involved with planning the food, they can help with certain preparation tasks, and they can certainly help with clean up.

Marc

2/27/2016 11:07:09 pm

Make it fun and include everyone in it. Ask them what ther favorite food is and come up with a menu that includes everyone's suggestion. They can help with some preparation.

Nohelani Quigtar

2/28/2016 11:08:37 pm

At our site, our kids get involved with meal preparation by choosing different jobs they can do. We also ask them what healthy snacks they like so we can incorporate it in the menu.

Morgan

2/29/2016 10:30:06 am

for our center we have an assigned meal helper everyday who goes with the teacher when snack is being prepared and helps him/her in the kitchen with appropriate snacks. a bonus is that they get to be the first to be served.

Andrew

3/3/2016 05:40:57 pm

During meal times ask them questions about the food - what they like, what they would change, etc. After brainstorming a meal, we can get them to help prepare the next day. Getting them to help with passing out also is an effective way of involving kids.

mariah

3/8/2016 10:18:04 pm

The children help plan our snack menus for each month. They are also allowed to set out plates and cups for snack time.

Katie

3/10/2016 11:05:47 am

You can have the kids give their suggestions about what they would like for snacks and meals, have them watch and interact with the staff as the meal is being prepared, and have them help pass out supplies such as cups, forks, etc.

Stephanie

3/11/2016 04:35:40 pm

You could get children involved in meal prep by giving them input into menu ideas. Then give them tasks to assist in its creation such as putting fruit on a skewer or spreading jam on toast. Have creative meal ideas such as banana boats or apple faces to encourage children to have fun with their food.

Nicole Littleton

3/12/2016 09:48:45 pm

You could have students help with the meal preparation by passing out napkins and silverware. You could also have students participate in a cooking activity once a week.

Tabitha

3/14/2016 09:02:47 am

To make it fun, have a song to go along with it.

Sara McColloch

3/14/2016 10:19:29 am

I would split the kids up into different groups and have them engage in an activity where they create and prep their own special meal.

Melissa

3/17/2016 09:22:21 am

To get kids interested in the preparation of food I would ask small groups of children to help get the food out and into serving dishes. Then I would ask another small group to help serve the food, thus giving them some responsibility and knowledge that they are being involved in the preparation of their snack for themselves and their friends.

Audrey MEZIL

3/18/2016 04:59:27 pm

To encourage the kids to be involved in meal preparation we usally do :
Each kid put his own place mat
The kids help in passing out utensils, cups, plates
They used to do their own snack with what we put on the table. They asked for the food, we put it in their plates and after they can do a toast, a sandwich, they can arrange the things as they want...
They serve themselves with water
After lunch or after snack, they clean their table and help to bring the food on the tray

Brianna Kanyid

3/19/2016 05:15:49 pm

1. PUMP the kids up! This activity is fun!
2. Make sure the area of food preparation is clean and disinfected
3. Make sure that children and staff have washed their hands
4. Divide them into groups with staffs as their group leader
5. Use a variety of foods with different colors and textures and tell the kids to get creative with how they arrange/ make the food
6. Encourage them to try the new foods you may have brought
7. Affirm their creations! It doesn't have to be perfect! :)

Jaclyn Tabone

3/20/2016 08:48:09 pm

Plan an activity that involves cooking or praise children for helping hand out food or setting the table.

Nathan Johnson

3/21/2016 11:22:26 am

Give the kids some options (all healthy) and have them help decide the menu for the whole class

Mischelle Johnson

3/22/2016 11:39:20 am

When mealtime comes around the prep work is already done. We can have helpers get drinks ready, set up the plates, napkins and cutlery. The food is already prepped, but not put together for them. IE a sandwich, they will get all the supplies for their sandwich and make it themselves!

Brittany Nielsen

3/22/2016 04:53:46 pm

To get children involved in meal preparation, I would allow them to help choose what's in the monthly menu and make sure to use a large variety of foods that are colorful. Having food prepped and allowing the children to put together their own meals is also helpful to get them involved.

Linda Mae Kristofik

3/24/2016 01:50:18 pm

On a daily basis, I would have meal helpers to set the tables, and set out the food. At meal times, the children can pass the bowls/ plates of food around and serve themselves. At lunch we could discuss how the meals are prepared, going over all the steps and talk about safety procedures as well. Once a week we could have a cooking lesson to make our own lunch or special snack. the children can then have a copy of the recipe to take home with them. The students would be encouraged to bring in a recipe from home that we could learn to make.

Aimee

3/25/2016 04:46:55 pm

We will get the kids involved by having them help pass out plates and cups. We also have one of the kids lead the prayer before meals/snacks

RAFFAELA GENZALE

4/6/2016 09:07:25 pm

Having kids help with the planning the meals, organization of the kitchen and help preparing meals

Katrina

4/12/2016 06:11:09 pm

Children can create their own little menus, beginning with snack. You can encourage parental involvement through setting the child the responsibility to plan a week of snacks with their parents, make a shopping list and go shopping together. I found this also works great for encouraging children to take more responsibility in eating their food.

Jeannette Williams

4/14/2016 10:49:09 am

i would ask them to plan a menu for a week or a month to see what they want to make it fun as well . they can give me their input once i read it out o them

Nayelika link

4/14/2016 03:26:11 pm

I would make the food preperation into a fun activity. :)

gabrielle

4/21/2016 03:53:42 pm

I ask for different volunteers each day to help me pick out and set up our snack for the day.

Dexter Allenlee Registe

4/26/2016 02:56:29 pm

Anne Standing

5/1/2016 04:34:47 pm

I believe that if the children help make decisions or at least have choices in terms of what food to prepare, they will be more motivated to help. For the children at my daycare, we tried that and they would have donuts and cake for every snack. ;)

Drew Berger

5/3/2016 01:07:42 pm

I would turn it into a competition. I would divide the class into equal groups and have them each create a menu after teaching them nutrition concepts and guidelines and then have all of the kids vote, without voting for their own, on which menu they think is the most appealing and nutritious.

Emily DuBois

5/5/2016 09:39:20 am

By asking the kids what foods they do and don't like, it will get them more excited about meal planning because they will be more appealed by the food options!

Kristina

5/5/2016 12:04:09 pm

Make it fun and interesting for the children

Kari link

5/6/2016 09:09:09 am

I try to allow the children handle their food and assist with prep work whenever possible. For example making quesadillas, I had the kids take the ball of masa and squish it with the press, then I would cook it for them, They put on the cheese, Then again I cook it, they eat and enjoy.

Daniel Allen

5/9/2016 04:59:32 pm

I would let the kids bite on healthy foods that they enjoy such as fruits and vegetables, dairy products and protein. They could help disinfect the preparation table before the meal too.

Myell Mergaert

5/21/2016 07:25:39 pm

I would divide the kids into groups to have them do parts of the preparation.

Christopher Williams

5/31/2016 10:07:03 am

First, get them involved through taking on tasks like serving the food to other students, or carrying over the food themselves from the kitchen to the serving area.
Secondly, begin an open dialogue, every day, with the children about whether they like or dislike the food and why?

Katheryn Leyde

6/2/2016 09:43:16 am

I would separate children in different groups, and give each group a different job. That way all children felt like they played a role in the prepping of their meal.

Madison Larsen

6/7/2016 02:13:31 pm

Involve students in deciding what the meals served should consist of-- take a vote for what students would like to eat. During the actual meal prep, divide students into groups so that each group has a designated "task", such as setting out the plates/trays, helping get the coolers with the drinks, etc. Allow students to have both a say and role in meal preparation.

Christina Huskey

6/9/2016 10:10:22 pm

a way to get kids to help with snack would be to ask the kids what kind of food they like to eat. then you can get the kids to make their own snack by them self. give different direction for the kids as to what they need to be doing. this will get the kids more involved with what they are eating.

Leticia Gutierrez

6/10/2016 06:06:37 am

Maybe once or twice a week have the kids vote on favorite fruits, vegetables and meats and plan meals with these ingredients that are simple enough that the kids could help prepare them.

Sashia Ramirez-Trujillo

6/14/2016 12:06:34 am

Cooking classes or cooking hour will be a good options for kids. They can enjoy cooking their meals and learn how to do it.
Kids vote for their favorite meals and once a week have them eat it.

manroop buttar

6/15/2016 12:04:01 am

have the children be involved such as setting place prepping areas and discussing favorite healthy foods

Katie

6/15/2016 11:48:47 pm

My center has snack helpers, we alternate students to help pass out food and juice. A great way to get kids involved with healthy food choices is to ask them to plan menus and cooking.

Mia Naficy

6/22/2016 07:24:37 am

Make it fun! Get kids excited about healthy and delicious foods! We have tried giving students a flour tortilla, then a choice of low-fat cream cheese or hummus and a multitude of pre-cut and whole vegetables for them to 'decorate' their wraps with and then enjoy. We have also done a Phad Thai bar, where students got to choose what they wanted in their dish and we would stir-fry it in front of them. Kids are very impressionable, if you are excited about cooking and eating healthily, they likely will be too... and that could last a lifetime.

Manolita

6/25/2016 09:31:32 am

The children will get involved in the following:
1) as part of job chart, at least 2 children will be involved in setting the table.
2) after discussing the best food chart, the class can help plan the menu for the month
3) at least once a month, the class prepare a meal, e.g., baking apple pie or juicing apples or oranges

Kimme

7/5/2016 12:15:30 pm

I would try and engage the kids in the meal preparation by making it fun. Kids enjoy hands on activities so i would have them help make the menu and also i would have the kids learn about what kinds of foods we need, show them the nutritional charts and have them pick certain foods for each color of foods, ie. carrots for Vitamin A. After that i would invite them to join me in preparing snacks.

Olivia Castillo

7/5/2016 10:00:52 pm

I would delicate responsibilities for each child to make the meal preparation and setting of the table fun. I would have the children also prepare the meals for the month so that they are excited for the meals each day.

vensie williams

7/8/2016 06:27:31 pm

Serve everything family style so that the children can pass the bread, meat and cheese in order to prepare their own sandwich. let them pure their own drinks as well

Emily Enright

7/12/2016 11:01:05 pm

To get kids interested in anything you have to involve them. I would have them help me come up with what we are making (within our means) and help me think of what we need to do to achieve the outcome we want (what ingredients are needed? what do we need to do to prep the ingredients? ect.) I would have them help me prepare whatever was safe for them to hadle (like putting the sauce,cheese, and toppings on their english pizza muffin before I put it in the toaster oven to cook)

Jeremy Tagliaferre

7/16/2016 08:34:00 pm

When the prep includes mixing, this is a great job for the kids to have. We serve snacks in smalls groups at a table and I involve the students in figuring out and negotiating with each other about what the proportions need to be. I usually serve the first helping, then we discuss how to divide up the rest for seconds and thirds based on who wants what and how much food is left.

Judith Regalado

7/25/2016 09:27:31 pm

I would let the kids vote for what they would like for snack one day this week. As I have all the materials ready for the snack that they voted for, I would divide them into small groups so they can help with the snack for that day.

Edith Stillwell

7/28/2016 07:55:09 am

We are doing this later. My class will help make their snack. Our theme this week is Under the Sea, so we will make an ocean snack. clear cups, yogurt, they can tint blue with food coloring,, vanilla wafers (for sand,) and goldfish and 1 swedish fish. They will create their ocean cups individually, but together, with assistance if needed.
We do fun food creation throughout the year. Many times, the children make suggestions on what we can make together.

Carly Froneberger

7/31/2016 01:13:04 pm

If I was going to let the students be involved in meals I would have them help choose food items for snack or lunch. Then I would let them set up snack for the foods they would be allowed to touch and the cups and plates.

Anne Pyle

8/14/2016 07:17:33 pm

It's a good idea to involve kids in food preparation so that they learn how to do it for themselves. To get them excited about it you could ask them what kind of foods that they like and put it in your meal plan. At my site, we alternate jobs every week. So every child will get the chance to be the snack helper; who helps clean the table before & after, rinse food off (with supervision), and set the table.

Margaret

8/26/2016 05:52:57 pm

Food science!
Also have a meal where groups make the components. Give the kids options for their meal preparation and have them use teamwork and democratic skills to make the meal, or it could be more individualized.

miesha

8/29/2016 12:23:46 pm

I would have the kids choose which snacks they would like to make and get them involved with making it, also i think having them make there own recipe book would not only get them excited about cooking but it would also give them the opportunity to cook at home.

Alexander

8/29/2016 07:06:49 pm

Children love to cook in the classroom. The very prospect of preparing food in the class room is encouragement enough! But splitting them into groups with specific tasks/dishes seems like a fun way to teach.

Angela Brun

8/31/2016 01:56:04 pm

Make it fun. Introduce food science to the students. Children tend to love to cook and eat. Have an introduction to cooking class if possible, or have a culinary arts class. The more the children know about good nutrition, the better off they are. If allowed to fall into bad habits, it might be extremely difficult to get the good habits back. Make cooking fun and interesting!!

Katarina Allen

9/4/2016 02:08:35 pm

I always get the kids to either help me with meal prep or with serving the food. This teaches them about nutritional value and how to be sanitary when serving the food.

Kate Taylor

9/5/2016 10:19:51 am

If you make it into a game or make it fun for the kids they will want to participate in the preparation of food. I would divide out jobs and groups to the different kids so they can work together to help feed the group. This provides a good experience in which to teach them about germs, the correct preparation of food, and why we serve the food we do.

Konstantin Yatsuk

9/6/2016 11:57:28 am

At our program the children bring their own lunch, meaning their parents cook it. Often when the kids tell me they don't like how something tastes I tell them to talk to their parents and to show their parents how they think it would taste better, or to cook it with their parents and try and improve the flavor, or make a completely new dish altogether.

Mani Hooyman

9/11/2016 09:43:56 pm

I would have some different options (healthy ones that are appropriate) and let them choose the final one so they feel like they are being heard and also it is more likely to be eaten because they picked it. It is also good for them to choose because it teaches them the value or nutrition.

Lacie

9/12/2016 08:41:53 pm

I would get the kids involved in preparation buy picking different kids daily to help prepare breakfast and lunch. Also have a cooking club where you can teach them things they want to make!

Alissa Gutierrez

9/14/2016 10:36:56 am

How can you encourage students to be involved with meal preparation?
I would choose three of the most well-behaved kids of that day to help me set up snack, they loved being chosen to be my little helpers. Occasionally we had baking club which would include the children to participate in making a treat and having a piece of it when it was completed.

McCanna

9/14/2016 11:18:46 am

To get the kids involved in food perpetration, we let them help us when making something. We will bring out multiple ingredients that could be used in what we are cooking and will let the kids choose what they want in. The kids really love this and it gets them super excited. On days when we are not cooking we have the kids all wash their hands and get a towel and then we will give them snack, they will keeping passing it down until everyone has it. The kids really like that too because they feel they are sharing or helping another out.

Quincy Henry

9/17/2016 02:44:28 pm

In order to involve the children, we allow them to assist with snack time. At the beginning of the week we go around and ask what snacks they would like to have throughout the week, we discuss why those choices are health appropriate and if something is suggested that is less appropriate we discuss why that is. During snack time, the children help get the snacks out they wash fruits and veggies, if it is paired with a dip they help to stir the dip. After the teacher cuts the fruit they help to separate each child's serving and then pass the snacks out. They take turns completing each role.

Yarely

9/21/2016 09:42:46 pm

At my program we have the cooks from school prepare our snacks. The kids don't actually get to help out.

Maleeha Choudhry

9/22/2016 12:36:42 am

ask them what they like and let them feel like they have a say in the snacks and make them feel like leaders.

Chloe

9/23/2016 03:24:23 pm

We could have the kids help set up the utensils (cups, forks, spoons, napkins, etc), and help with clean up. We could give them age appropriate tasks for preparation, such as washing the fruit or vegetables, or even help us hand out the food.
Of course, we already try to model and have conversations about food safety (why we don't share food--in case someone has a severe food allergy--and why we wear gloves when handling the food--to keep germs at bay--are a couple of examples.) We are always open to food-related questions, and the topics range from what it means to eat healthy and make good food choices, to where our food comes from.

Sarah

9/25/2016 03:20:06 pm

At our program we don't actually prepare the food, the school cooks do. But we do allow 2 "snack helpers" per day to help set out napkins, sporks and straws.

Britt

9/29/2016 07:40:57 pm

At my school site, we do not prepare meals but we prepare snack. Children love to be helpers and given the incentive to be a helper that usually encourages most to be on their best behavior than depending the day will depend on number of snack helpers. Encourage to wash hands before and after glove use.

Krystal Hwang

10/1/2016 10:51:46 pm

There is a routine we go for meal preparation and we have everything ready for the kids and teachers handing out untensils,napkins, drinks of their choice like water or milk, healthy snack choices. We also have a chart of what kind of snacks are passed out to students. And for students that have allergies we have special foods for them for parents to bring for the child to eat during snack time.

Kate Sheldon

10/3/2016 11:22:13 am

Let the kids vote on their favorite menu items. When we serve your favorite, you get to help prepare!

Lexi

10/4/2016 10:49:55 am

Splitting into groups to serve would be one suggestion. If you are making something at the center you could have the children add or mix ingredients. Have them do as much as possible so they feel included and responsible.

kylee

10/10/2016 12:47:12 pm

serve snacks that they enjoy eating. let them serve others and reward them

Kristopher McLendon

10/11/2016 12:46:51 pm

Our meals are premade for us. I would allow the kids options and then different stations to work with staff to prepare simple meals.

Alicia

10/16/2016 10:00:48 pm

A great way to get kids involved is to let them choose what they want to eat or make. This way it's something they actually want. Another way is instead of preparing the food before hand, get all the ingredients out on the table where the kids can see. Most of the time when kids see things like that they get excited and ask to help. Make sure that when they do help to encourage that behavior and praise them, so next time they will want to do it again.

Kiana Wastradowski

10/16/2016 10:38:10 pm

Prepare meal area, help measure ingredients, help mix ingredients, help place ingredients where they need to be. That would be what the child helps with, maybe also with display of the food and what else they think would go best with it.

diana

10/17/2016 08:12:39 pm

help them understand more the health issues they could bhave if eating wrong and allowing them to show you there fvorite foods

Jocelyn Ramirez

10/18/2016 11:59:13 am

you can give the children jobs, like a few kids can help wash the fruits and veggies, another student can help peel the fruits of veggies if needed. An adult can cut the fruits and vegetables, while the other students put them on the plates for others.

Aliyah Martin

10/25/2016 10:31:15 pm

Meal preparation should always be a fun time for kids to be able to learn and play a special role in ones health. Allow children to discuss tasty and appealing recipes, snacks, or dishes they would like to see prepared. Give each child a role in helping with food preparation.

Latifa Franklin

10/27/2016 04:44:40 am

I would make a list of what we need to do and assign one task for each child to make sure everyone is in involved in the meal preparation.

nicole wilson

10/31/2016 12:17:00 pm

to get students involved in helping with snack time have them help you set the tables with napkins, utensils, plates and cups. then they can help pass out the food if already on plates or in bowls

Amber

11/14/2016 03:36:50 pm

Find out what foods the kids like and have them help prepare it. We also do extra cooking projects where we make fun shapes and other things out of nutritious food.

Sarah Garcia

11/18/2016 10:38:14 am

A good way to get children involved is to keep them active in helping with meal preparation. Allow older kids to help hand out utensils, and allow younger children to help clean before and after.

Laura Murillo

11/26/2016 11:33:18 pm

Good ways to encourage students to be involved in meal preparation is by talking about meal preparations. Reading to them and showing them what it takes to prepare a meal and explaining to them how and why is very exciting to them especially if they know they will get a chance to try it hands on. Any student at any age likes learning to be a lttle helper and get some sort of independence.

Jennifer Hargrove

11/27/2016 08:45:43 pm

Ways to encourage kids to participate is giving out responsibilities that do not require a food handlers permit, like handing out juice or milk boxes or fruits with skin. Also collaborate on the menu with a vote, where the center gives them a list to choose from.

Esperanza Lira

11/29/2016 11:12:54 am

When it's time to serve snack time, we usually either ask one of the kids to be our helper or one of them usually asks before it's time. We try to give everyone that wants to help a chance to do so, so the same child can't help more than once a week. They have to wash their hands and wear gloves just like us, and they usually just separate cups or paper towels. All the children are required to wash their hands before sitting down at the snack table and to clean up after themselves when done with snack. We also have "cooking club" once a week and they get the opportunity to provide ideas as to what they can prepare, something healthy and simple that they can help make for themselves.

Juan Flores

12/4/2016 03:31:50 pm

We make it interesting for the students and give them a bit of responsibility.

Marisol Diaz

12/9/2016 12:27:14 pm

I believe the best way to get the children involved is by allowing them to participate in the planning. Making them feel like they are helping adults always entourages them to want to participate.

Karla Palomino

12/20/2016 10:25:39 am

You can encourage students to be a part of meal prep by allowing them to do anything that has nothing to do with a food handlers permit. For example have the kids give out juice boxes or have the kids vote on snack where we as the caregivers give them options where snack would still be a healthy one.

Nakayla

12/30/2016 08:38:40 pm

Make it into a fun activity with possible rewards and encourage the fact that it shows responsibility

Jessica pattison

1/6/2017 02:05:36 pm

Most children love cooking, or mixing ingrediants. I would make sure it is a fun activity such as ants on a log or something easy and colorful they can make themselves.

Thomas

1/14/2017 08:38:42 pm

At the beginning of every month, and have a group discussion of different foods and meals you'd like to prepare and eat. Once a week, or every two weeks have a group meal, that is prepared by the children. Have the children split into different groups, and assign each group a part of the recipe they are responsible for.

nishat iqbal

1/16/2017 01:04:55 pm

I would make a small group with kids and give each group different task to complete.

Barbara Edrington

1/16/2017 01:05:22 pm

First find out if any of the Children are allergic to any type of foods, and then sit in a small group to figure out a menu plan that works!

Leslie

1/17/2017 11:48:14 pm

We allow the students to have certain jobs at meal and snack times. They volunteer or we assign students to pass out napkins, eating utensils, cups, plates, etc. when we have cooking activities, we take turns measuring, pouring, stirring, and other actions. We also discuss our likes and dislikes about the menu of the day in a family style setting.

Rachel Simmons

1/22/2017 08:12:46 pm

The first way I would try to get students involved in meal prepping is by mentioning to them the benefits of what they are eating. Then I would have a list of tasks for them to do and split them up into groups to have them help complete certain tasks.

Kaile

2/9/2017 08:21:28 pm

Allowing children to prepare their own snack since they cannot prepare other kids food. Set out ingredients for different things and let them make it themselves

Page 15

Go Back

This is a required assignment! Do not skip!

More Training Options

Curriculum Resources

Professionalism Blog

E-mail:
info@starstraining.org
Phone: (360) 602-0960

Student support 7 days a week, including holidays! 
Monday - Friday 6:30 am – 9:00 pm
Saturday - Sunday 8:00 am – 9:00 pm

Module 7 Discussion Question: Healthy Menus

Leave a Reply.

Page 15