Handing off meal prep to the pros isn’t just a time-saver—it’s a game-changer.
Busy parents: They get their mornings back (no more 6 a.m. sandwich assembly lines).
Educators: They can actually educate, instead of scrambling to plan meals and snacks.
Centers: They dodge the stress of kitchen staffing, equipment repairs, and playing Tetris with pantry inventory.
Studies show that when meals are taken care of, staff can spend more time doing what they’re paid to do—like 24 extra minutes a day, on average. That adds up.
Pre-K meal services must adhere to strict nutritional standards established by federal and state guidelines. For children aged 3-5, each meal must include:
Milk requirements: 3/4 cup (6 oz.) of unflavored low-fat or fat-free milk daily [3]
Fruit/Vegetable servings: Minimum 1/2 cup at breakfast and 1/4 cup at lunch [3]
Grain components: At least one whole grain-rich offering daily [3]
Sodium limits: Total daily intake limited to 1,700 mg or less [4]
Pre-K nutrition standards in New York City? Let’s just say… they’re not for the faint of heart. Luckily, navigating all those rules is kind of our thing.
Breakfast serves as the foundation for a productive learning day. All NYC pre-k breakfast menus include three essential components: fruits, grains/meat alternatives, and milk. Every morning meal features 3/4 cup of unflavored low-fat or fat-free milk. Popular breakfast selections include:
Lunch menus balance nutrition with child-friendly appeal. Every lunch includes all five required food components: fruits, vegetables, grains, meat/meat alternatives, and milk. Typical options include:
Snacks play an increasingly important role in children’s diets, with today’s children consuming nearly three snacks per day compared to just one in the late 1970s. Our snack menu focuses primarily on fruits and vegetables since most children don’t consume enough of these food groups. Popular snack offerings include:
"Healthy Heart has been delivering lunch to 5 of our locations since 2015. Pam helped us create a CACFP-compliant menu that accommodates allergies and dietary preferences. Our lunch arrives on time, fresh, and warm. When something comes up or we need to make changes, Healthy Heart is always (and I mean always!) available to assist us. We highly recommend Healthy Heart!"