Family Style Meals For Preschoolers

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Family-Style Meals For Pre-schoolers
Most elementary schools have not embraced self-selection and family-style meals for children. There are many factors which lead to the preference of this type of feeding in schools. Instead, schools make single types of means for children. Different children have different needs feeding needs due to cultural, social and medical reasons.Schools are supposed to be environments which enhance children’s health. Family-based meals show positive effects on children’s health. The service helps in improving the overall health of the child, physically, socially and emotionally. It increases role modeling, peer to peer interactions and helps in teaching mealtime etiquette (Coborn, 5). The school food program should be customized to consider things like chronic illnesses, culture, and developmental disabilities. These affect feeding skills, choice of food, feeding procedures and nutritional needs.
School children come from different cultures and would accept and eat food from their own culture. According to Robertson (276), schools should attempt to provide different types of food and understand children’s culture. Peers, parents, media, and teachers have an influence on a pre-schooler feeding habit and heath. Teachers can set up a positive eating environment at school. This can be achieved by introducing special meals, meal rules, and positive conversations just like in a family setting. Children should be encouraged to select food, help in preparation, help plan meals, set tables and maintain table etiquette.

In terms of self-selection, teachers should respect the child’s food choice and their hunger levels. Families should be consulted while making child nutritional goals. Accurate feeding records should be kept and provided to the family.
Providing children with family-style meals while encouraging participation helps in improving children’s health and developing healthier eating behaviors. It takes care of children special needs while encouraging physical an emotional health. Participation of teachers, children, and parents helps in realizing better health results for pre-schoolers.

Works Cited
Coborn, Jamie E., et al. “Building Healthier Children Through Family-Style Service in School Cafeterias.” Journal of Child Nutrition & Management 39.1 (2015): n1.
Robertson, Cathie. Safety, nutrition and health in early education. Cengage Learning, 2015