Procedures - Meal Time Guidelines
Section: Human Resource Procedures
Procedure Owner: Ignition633 Ministries Nigeria Human Resources
Procedure Name: Meal-time Guidelines Procedures
Origination Date: January 2025
Purpose
To ensure that children receive nutritious, well-balanced meals in a safe, hygienic, and supportive environment. These procedures aim to promote healthy eating habits, accommodate dietary needs and allergies, encourage positive social interactions, and foster a pleasant and structured mealtime experience.
Scope
Includes ensuring nutritious and age-appropriate meals, accommodating dietary needs and allergies, maintaining hygiene, fostering a structured and positive mealtime environment, supervising children for safety, educating about healthy eating, and training staff to comply with food handling regulations.
Definition
Meal: is a set of food and beverages consumed at a specific time of day, typically as part of a daily routine, such as breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Meals are designed to provide nourishment and energy for the body.
Time: is the ongoing and continuous sequence of events that occur in succession, from the past through the present to the future.
Guidelines: are general rules, principles, or instructions that provide direction or advice on how to proceed in specific situations.
Meal Time Guidelines
Pre-Meal-time
A pleasant mealtime environment helps shape positive food habits and attitudes in children. Serving meals in a relaxed and happy atmosphere facilitates children's acceptance and enjoyment of the food. Children must enjoy eating various foods because their nutritional well-being depends on this practice.
Many factors work together to make mealtime successful. Check the following list to be sure the mealtime environment is set for success:
Is an adult seated at the table during all mealtimes?
An adult should be seated with the children during all mealtimes because role modeling is essential to developing healthy eating habits and positive attitudes toward nutrition. The role model exemplifies the eating behaviors children should imitate. The adult should eat the same meal the children eat and refrain from making negative comments or critical facial expressions while eating. Sweets, sodas, or other less nutritious foods should not be eaten in front of the children. An adult's attitude of calm concern, interest, and encouragement sets a relaxed pace for the entire meal.
Is the table set for family-style service?
Family-style service presents many learning opportunities for children. Using utensils and passing and serving various kinds of food improves their coordination. Participating in mealtime activities and conversation stimulates the development of children's language and social skills.
Are tables and chairs at the correct height for children?
Appropriately sized furniture is essential for children's comfort. Their feet should be firmly placed on the floor and should not dangle in the air. Sitting properly at the table allows children to reach their utensils easily, thus reducing spills.
Are the tables overcrowded?
Only six to eight children should be seated at each table. Overcrowded tables invite behavioral problems for the teacher.
Are the eating utensils easy for children to handle?
Disposable utensils are difficult for children to handle. Glasses, plates, and unbreakable and child-size silverware should be provided. The handles of silverware should be short and broad so that little hands can grasp them easily. The tines of forks should be short and blunt. Glasses with a broad base are easy for children to handle.
Is the eating area attractive and clean?
Children eat better in comfortable, cheerful surroundings. Distractions, such as traffic through the eating area or loud noises or voices from adjoining rooms, should be minimized. The eating area should be clean, and washing hands should be a regular activity before each meal or snack.
Are mealtimes well spaced?
If meals are served too closely together, children may not eat because they do not feel hungry. On the other hand, too much time between meals and snacks can make children feel irritable.
Is a quiet time planned just before meals?
A short quiet time before meals can help children settle down and relax. The teacher may tell a story, play soft music, or discuss the meal.
Meal time
Meal time can be a messy and fun learning experience. Your child may have about three meals and two to three snacks every day. A routine can help children know what to expect when it is time for meals or snacks.
Here are some routines and tips for mealtimes:
Clean
- Wash the children's hands before mealtime.
- Tip: Concerned about a mess? You can put newspaper or a plastic mat on the floor under their high chairs or booster seats. This can help with cleanup.
Be Safe
- Sit the children in a safe place. High chairs or booster seats are good options. Strap the children into the high chairs or booster seats.
- Watch over the children at all times to ensure they are safe.
Focus
- Face children toward you or other children at the table.
- Limit distractions. Avoid letting TV, videos, cell phones, or toys distract children from eating. These can also distract you too. Focus on the children during mealtimes.
- Talk with children during mealtimes. This can be fun, and children need to have your attention.
- Tip: Mealtimes do not have to be long. Mealtimes can last 10 or 15 minutes or as long as children can pay attention.
Did You Know?
Children should not watch screens.
- The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that children avoid screens until 18 months old unless they are video-chatting with friends or family.
Fingers, spoons, forks, and cups
- When babies first start eating foods, you may use a spoon, or they may use their fingers.
- Children will develop different skills to help with mealtimes as they age.
- Tip: Are you worried about breaking dishes or cups? Use dishes and cups that are not breakable and do not have sharp edges.
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This procedure will be reviewed annually and is subject to change. Any changes will be communicated to all employees promptly.
For any questions or further assistance regarding this policy, employees should contact the HR department at hr.nigeria@ignition633.org.