Advantage Preschool and Child Care

Advantage Preschool in Ann Arbor provides all meals and snacks, and carefully plans them to meet the nutritional requirements of children.  We participate in Michigan’s Child Care Food Program, and therefore must meet USDA requirements for all meals and snacks that are served.  To allow children to grow and take responsibility, all snacks and meals are served family-style.  Children are not forced to eat anything. However, children are expected to try one bite of every food served.  If, after trying the “no thank-you” bite, they do not like the food, he or she will not be required to eat the rest of it at that meal.  I have found that children often like foods they did not initially want to try once they have been exposed to it a few times. It is my experience that children will eat when they are hungry, and will get all of the nutrients they need, when consistently presented with a variety of healthy choices.

You are welcome to provide your child’s favorite, wholesome foods, but please plan to bring enough to share with all of the children so as to avoid problems.  Also, please notify me in advance so that I can plan the day’s menu accordingly.  Whenever you bring food, please inform me of any ingredients such as nuts, which may cause allergic reactions.  Please refrain from bringing “junk foods” (such as cakes, candy, chips, cookies, etc.) except for truly special occasions such as your child’s birthday, since these are not typically served at Advantage Preschool.

The meal schedule I follow is listed below. Children who are present during these times will be fed.  I am flexible with meal times within a half hour or so. If your child will be arriving after a scheduled meal time, please arrange to feed him or her prior to arriving.  This allows me to focus on our daily activities and eliminates problems caused by children arriving with “Happy Meals” in hand.

• •  7:00-8:30 Breakfast
  • 10:00-10:15 Snack
  • 11:45-12:15 Lunch
  • 3:00-3:15 Snack

Our weekly menu will be posted. 

In the interest of avoiding unnecessary processing, additives, and pesticides, I am very cautious about what I serve here at Advantage Preschool.  I do not serve most commercially-available lunch meats, hot dogs, or bacon.  All of my bread, pasta, and rice are whole-wheat. All juices that I serve will be 100% juice, with no artificial flavors, and often organic. Most of the produce I buy is organic (especially the following that have been cited by the Environmental Working Agency as having the highest levels of pesticides: Peaches, Apples, Bell Peppers, Celery, Nectarines, Strawberries, Cherries, Kale, Lettuce, Grapes (imported), Carrots, and Pears. I also include Potatoes, Spinach and Raspberries).  As my budget allows, I also prefer to buy organic dairy and meats.