School Menu Analysis

NAEYC Standard 2a: Knowing about and understanding diverse family and community characteristics

This is an individual assignment, not a group assignment.

The Student will:

• examine specific methods that are used for planning nutritious meals and snacks for children through elementary school
• analyze menu plans in childhood settings for nutrients and inclusion of cultural foods

Utilizing your textbook, school districts’ websites and websites below, complete the following assignment by the due date.

• Download a menu from a school district.
• Choose one week from your menu that has 5 days of food
• Use these resources, along with your textbook, to help you determine what is nutritionally balanced for elementary-aged children.
  Kid’s Healthy Eating PlateLinks to an external site.
  https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/childrens-health/in-depth/nutrition-for-kids/art-20049335Links to an external site.
• Write, in the Excel file, Menu planning with adjustment column.xlsx  what a child would need to eat for a snack and dinner each night if he or she ate breakfast and lunch at school every day that week to have a nutritionally balanced meal each day.
• List breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner.
  • Be sure the entrée, side, beverage and dessert are listed for each meal (a snack and beverage only for “snack”)
  • If the menu gives choices for breakfast or lunch, you decide what that choice is.
• Include what 30 minutes of activity or exercise would be included in this child’s routine each day to round out his or her day. (A different activity each day).

This is an individual assignment, not a group assignment.  The designations below are to show you for which dietary need or preference you need to change your menu.