Health & Nutrition
Promoting healthy head starts using nutritious foods and smart eating habits
Children’s nutrition is no small issue at GCCSA, Inc. Enrolled children get the best possible nutrition to help them grow up strong and healthy, and are provided a positive atmosphere where they experience and learn good nutrition habits.
Our Head Start (HS) and Early Head Start (EHS) Centers serve nutritious meals and snacks through our participation in the Child and Adult Care Food Program. We establish smart eating habits by:
Providing nutritiously balanced meals: breakfast, lunch and snacks.
Serving meals and snacks to children individually and allowing children second servings from the vegetable, fruit, grain, and milk groups.
Encouraging children to feed themselves, try new foods and allowing them the opportunity to make decisions of what they will eat.
Providing special dietary meals as prescribed by a physician or as a family preference.
What is the Child and Adult Care Food Program?
Play Video
Health is the foundation of school readiness. Your child’s overall health and development is needed for a healthy and happy child who is ready to experience new things. We work with families to help children thrive, providing standardized health and developmental screening which include speech, hearing and vision.
Head Start is required to follow the Texas Health (TH) Steps mandates. Within the first thirty (30) days of enrollment, a GCCSA Health Specialist will determine if a child is up-to-date on preventative and primary medical and dental health care. The goal is to assure each child has an ongoing source of continuous, accessible care, meaning a “dental home” and a “medical home”.
We also ensure that all enrolled children have age-appropriate, up-to-date immunizations, as required by Texas State law.
2022-2023 HS Snack Menu
MONDAY
TUESDAY
WEDNESDAY
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
Week 1: Aug 23, Sep 20, Oct 18, Nov 15, Jan 3, Jan 31, Feb 28, April 4, May 2, May 30
- 1 pack Chex Mix (1 oz)
- 1- 100% Strawberry Banana Juice (4.23 fl oz)
- 2 packs WG-rich Graham Crackers (1 oz)
- 1 Mozzarella Cheese (1 oz)
- 1 pack WG-rich Goldfish (1 oz)
- 1 Flavored Yogurt (4 oz)
- 2 packs WG-rich Crackers (0.4 oz)
- 1 Fresh Banana
- 1/2 cup Fresh Celery (6 sticks)
- 1 oz Packet of Creamy Ranch Dressing
- 1- 100% Apple Juice (4 fl oz)
Week 2: Aug 30, Sep 27, Oct 25, Nov 29, Jan 10, Feb 7, Mar 7, April 11, May 9, June 6
- 1 pack WG Cinnamon Bug Bites Crackers (1 oz)
- 1 Strawberry Applesauce (4 oz)
- 2 packs WG-rich Graham Crackers (1 oz)
- 1 Flavored Yogurt (4 oz)
- 1 WG-rich Apple Cinnamon Muffin (2 oz)
- 1- 100% Strawberry Banana Juice (4.23 fl oz)
- 1 Fresh Banana
- 1 pack WG-rich Goldfish (1oz)
- 1- 100% Grape Juice (4 fl oz)
- 1/2 cup Fresh Baby Carrots (6 carrots)
- 1 oz Packet of Creamy Ranch Dressing
Week 3: Sep 6, Oct 4, Nov 1, Dec 6, Jan 17, Feb 14, Mar 21, April 18, May 16
- 2 packs WG-rich Graham Crackers (1 oz)
- 1- 100% Strawberry Banana Juice (4.23 fl oz)
- 1 Fresh Banana
- 1 Mozzarella Cheese (1 oz)
- 2 packs WG-rich Crackers (0.4 oz)
- 1- 100% Grape Juice (4 fl oz)
- 1 pack WG Cinnamon Bug Bites Crackers (1 oz)
- 1 Flavored Yogurt (4 oz)
- 1 pack Chex Mix (1 oz)
- 1 Strawberry Applesauce (4 oz)
Week 4: Sep 13, Oct 11, Nov 8, Dec 13, Jan 24, Feb 21, Mar 28, April 25, May 23
- 2 packs WG-rich Graham Crackers (1 oz)
- 1 Mozzarella Cheese (1 oz)
- 1 pack WG-rich Goldfish (1 oz)
- 1- 100% Grape Juice (4 fl oz)
- 1 WG-rich Blueberry Muffin (2 oz)
- 1 Fresh Banana
- 2 packs WG-rich Crackers (0.4 oz)
- 1 Flavored Yogurt (4 oz)
- 1- 100% Apple Juice (4 fl oz)
- 1/2 cup Fresh Baby Carrots (6 carrots)
- 1 oz Packet of Creamy Ranch Dressing
Water is available with all meals.
WG = Whole Grain
This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
This institution is an equal opportunity provider. Read more on our anti-discrimination policies.