Health & Safety

Healthy Eating at ECYC, a Nut-Free Environment

Each day, the kitchen staff at ECYC freshly prepares breakfast, lunch, and an afternoon snack.  These meals are well-balanced, varied, and nutritious. Meals are also planned to be mindful of types of foods appropriate for the various age groups.  This staff works together to plan and deliver a nutritionally balanced breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snack to all our children on a daily basis. ECYC has the ability to consult with Registered Dietitians when reviewing our menus as a support to our Kitchen staff. Menu suggestions from parents are welcome and can be brought to us through our PLG meetings. ECYC is a completely nut-free environment.

In all age groups, we see our mealtimes as part of our curriculum. Our staff sit with the children to model pleasant conversation. They also encourage the children to try everything on their plates, but they do not force children to eat. Our goal is to see that the children get a proper amount of nutritionally balanced food every day.

Family Style Meals

Serving family-style meals is a great way to allow children the freedom to make decisions and develop their own tastes. Family-style meals include child-size tables, set with plates and utensils. Food is passed in easy-to-handle containers for children to serve their own plates. Serving themselves gives children time to practice skills like passing, pouring, and scooping food. Taking turns, sharing, and politely turning down food is part of the table manners children can learn.

Seeing new foods and watching others serve themselves encourages children who are often unsure about new foods to be more interested in the meal.  Children do not see one food as more important than another. The positive effects of this type of meal service for children include building lifetime skills, taking part in the entire meal from preparation to cleanup, and enjoying a meal setting that is comfortable and relaxing.

Please note: We stopped children from serving their food during the pandemic. We are now transitioning back to this process. Food for children with allergies is set aside from the other food to ensure safe practices are in place.

Fresh Air and Outdoor Play

ECYC believes that our children should be outside as much as possible. Health experts tell us of the importance of fresh air and outdoor play. Playing outside also enables children to release some of their energy and develop large muscle coordination as well as strengthening other valuable skills. Our facilities include 10 age-specific outdoor playgrounds, including climbers and ride-on parks.

New Jersey Licensing requires a minimum of 60 minutes of physical activity per day outside for children in attendance for more than 4 hours. ECYC brings children outside in weather above 20 degrees but not if it is raining. This allows children to develop an appreciation for the diversity of the seasons. Outdoor space for the children’s physical activities or its equivalent, as specified in N.J.A.C. 3A:52-5.4(a)7.