Implementation of Nutrition Standards in Early Childhood Settings
Goal: To improve the quality of nutrition in early childhood settings throughout the City of Trenton by supporting practices that meet or exceed current nutrition standards
Objective 1: Conduct an environmental needs assessment of food programs, formats, and vendors across public and private pre-school settings and identify areas where low-cost effective interventions can be made to improve nutritional quality
Objective 2: Provide specific technical assistance to improve implementation of food selection and delivery practices that will lead to food programs that meet and exceed current nutritional standards
Objective 3: Develop and implement an operational and education plan in conjunction with the pre-school directors, staff and parents to promote healthy food in early childhood settings and at home
Implementation of Nutrition Standards in Early Childhood Settings Indicators
0.04 markets/ 1,000 population
This indicator shows the number of farmers markets per 1,000 population. A farmers market is a retail outlet in which vendors sell agricultural products directly to customers.
Data Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture - Food Environment Atlas
Planning, Implementation, Evaluation, and Post-Award Management Activities
Activities to improve nutrition standards in early childhood settings throughout the City of Trenton
2020
Develop a healthy food needs assessment in selected early childhood settings in Trenton and make recommendations (PSE)
Purpose: Development of an updated healthy food assessment that is consistent with state and federal policies; Build rapport among community partners and early childhood setting providers and interagency collaborationOutcome: Completion of a healthy food assessment and recommendations for early childhood settings in Trenton motivated to improve nutrition standardsConnect early childhood setting directors and staff with community partners to develop healthy food options (PSE)
Purpose: Development of healthy food options and menus that are consistent with state and federal policies; Creation of broad cross-sector coordination to promote social changeOutcome: Completion of food menus that are consistent with local, state and federal policies; Channeling health- conscious change to achieve collective impactIncorporate age-appropriate and creative healthy food education and demonstrations in selected early childhood settings in Trenton (program & health education)
Purpose: Development of healthy eating educational curriculum with early childhood sites and related community-based organizations; Promotion of healthy eating habits at a young ageOutcome: Completion of healthy eating curriculum; Establishing ongoing healthy food demonstrations at select early childhood settingsIntroduce National Farm to School Network programs into a few Trenton early childhood settings (PSE)
Purpose: Connect and work with Beth Feehan, New Jersey State Lead and Coordinator of the New Jersey Department of Agriculture’s Farm to School Program; Develop a few SMART Farm to School Network objectives/projects to implement in selected early childhood settingsOutcome: Introduce a few Farm to School Network objectives/projects in selected early childhood settings in Trenton; Healthier and more sustainable food options/program in early childhood settings in Trenton