Growing Healthy Kids
Program Overview
Growing Healthy Kids is a collaborative program between Gateway Greening (GGI) and United 4 Children (A 2011 merger of Child Day Care Association and St. Louis for Kids ) with the goal of increasing the amount of healthy, fresh food available to young children at risk for childhood obesity in child care homes and centers in the St. Louis area. Children learn at a young age what they like to eat, and we know that if they are offered fresh food options high in nutritional value, they will establish healthy eating habits for the long-term. If kids grow their own and are part of the hands on action, they are more likely to pick fresh food over less healthy snacks.
Through the Growing Healthy Kids Grant process, child care homes and centers are awarded intensive vegetable production gardens to grow the healthy foods that will be used for snacks and meals served to the children in their programs.
Garden-Based Trainings
During the first year of a Growing Healthy Kids Garden, Gateway Greening staff visit child care facilities on a seasonal and as-needed basis to provide hands on garden education to the providers at each facility. In this way, we help to ensure a successful, high-yield garden that will provide plenty of healthy snacks and meals for the kids!
Nutrition Trainings and Menu Planning
United 4 Children provides seasonal workshops that highlight foods high in nutrition and provide many strategies for serving healthy snacks and meals in a child care setting. United 4 Children also implement seasonal menus that utilize garden-grown foods!
Garden List
| Ages & Stages Childcare |  |
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| Brown Bear Academy | |
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| Guardian Angel Settlement | |
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| JaVera Child Care Center | |
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| Little Feet Home Child Care | |
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| Magnolia Head Start/Grace Hill Settlement | |
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| Premier Daycare | |
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| Simms Childcare | |
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| Stella Maris Child Center | |
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| University City Children's Center | |
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Recent Photos
