A conscious lifestyle and healthy eating habits are important to the over-all well-being of a child and instills respect for our world.
"Ketchup is not a vegetable." Just as adults need good nutrition to perform at their best, children are especially vulnerable to the effects of a poor diet on their development, growth and academic achievement. Evidence to support this is coming out in the media all the time causing mainstream education to review how they are addressing school lunch programs.
KMS has been a long-term advocate for healthy eating in youth. KMS has been a strong supporter of the principles inherent in today’s "Slow Food Movement". That results in serving food that is local, seasonal and, where possible, organically grown. KMS also recognizes that much socialization happens around food and that food is also an expression of cultural diversity. Therefore, at KMS, mealtimes are an integral part of the program.
Lunch From Home Guidelines
KMS is GREEN and urges parents to help
children pack their lunches with reusable containers and utensils that promote
self-serving, such as individual thermoses that keep foods hot and cold. KMS
Staff cannot heat lunch portions and refrigeration will not be provided. Lunches should feature healthy food items and
reflect high nutrition standards and everything should be labeled with your
child’s name. Candy, gum and soda are not allowed. Some suggestions for
kid-tested, tried and true favorite lunches:
§ Cucumber slices, tuna chunks
and hummus in whole wheat pita pockets
§ Black bean and brown rice
burritos (try it with thin mango slices and feta cheese)
§ Peanut butter and banana
slices on raisin bread
§ Chicken noodle soup with
corn muffin
§ Mixed fresh berries and a
scoop of cottage cheese
§ Fresh Green Salads with
Avocado, tomato, and carrot curls.
§ Pasta, pasta, pasta!
All leftovers
are packed out daily. This allows parents to monitor children’s intake and food
preferences. Hungry children do not play or sleep well! This pack-it-out policy
also contains trash, compost and recyclables appropriately without adding
chores to our teachers. Thank you for supporting the lunch policies.
Ecological Awareness
We promote a 'zero waste’ lunch program, using washable plates, utensils, and cups. Instead of paper towels, children use washcloths for cleanup. At every meal, children place vegetable and food scraps in a bowl for the compost bin. We teach respect for the environment through our extensive recycling and composting program. The school now contributes an estimated 90 gallons of compost per week (or 4,500 gallons a year) to San Francisco’s Composting Program.
