Playing with the Great Pumpkin!

Nutritious meals are just one way RCHS strives to make the world a better place for the children in our care. Since the start of the school year, we’ve served hundreds of nutritious meals!

But, Head Start and Early Head Start’s nutrition program also includes activities based on research that physical health starts with a positive relationship to food.

As with our Early Childhood and Family Services programs, we know that kids learn best when they are having fun. Led by Angela Goepel, our Nutrition Team bring together food and joyful learning about nutrition. Kitchen Supervisor Cindy Heir creates child development activities for each classroom with consideration for how learning about food and nutrition can be playful.

“I love doing nutrition activities with the children,’ says Cindy. “Their expressions are priceless. They are very engaged, explore, and ask questions..”

This month, Cindy brought pumpkins into each classroom. The children explored the inside and outside of the pumpkin, feeling different textures and sensory aspects. The children asked questions and learned how pumpkins are a plant that grows in the ground and also a food.

“I introduced the pumpkins while they were still whole. I asked them to feel it, knock on it, notice if it was smooth or rough, hot or cold. Then, I cut a hole in the top and pulled the stem. The kids got excited when they saw the seeds and the pumpkin pulp. I turned the pumpkin on it’s side and all the kids put their hands in. Some went ‘eeek’ and some wanted to keep playing inside the open, sticky pumpkin. We talked about seeds and how gooey it was on the inside. Then, I cut the pumpkin in half and divided it into two sides. Some of the kids tasted it. Afterwards we roasted the seeds.”

The October menu had pumpkin muffins, roasted pumpkin, pumpkin oatmeal, and pumpkin dip with apples. For infants, the gooey pumpkin and seeds were put into a zip lock bag for an age appropriate sensory touch experience. Parents also received a handout with questions to ask children and directions to make their own sensory bags.

Nutrition impacts development in many ways – sleep, learning, and managing stress. By incorporating fun nutrition activities, RCHS encourages children to try new foods and learn about different food groups. Recent research shows that nutrition and diet affect brain development and emotion regulation. The RCHS Nutrition Team’s monthly activities bring food and nutrition into focus and allow teachers and children to discover the ways food makes us stronger, healthier, and happier.

Angela notes that the Nutrition Program will also be expanding in the near future to partner with the Family Services department to bring activities for parents that may include cooking classes with take home meals.

Nutrition activities in November will focus on apples.