NíaCentral Catering prepares meals each day that are fresh, tasty and nourishing. Menus follow USDA regulations and Healthy Tots Act guidelines to include a variety of fresh fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins from local products when possible. Menus are rich in fiber and low in fat, sugar and sodium.

CentroNía’s Food and Wellness Roots initiative provides teachers and parents the necessary tools to cultivate healthy habits during early childhood. Using the Roots workbook, CentroNia’s teachers implement health and wellness activities in the classroom and staff host family engagement events, cooking demos and nutrition education workshops regularly at all of CentroNía’s centers to educate families.

Partnerships with local organizations offer staff and families access to local produce and wellness resources. CentroNia’s Food and Wellness staff provide workshops that cover a variety of topics, such as the importance of drinking water, food choices at the market, gardening, and physical activity. Participants receive a farmer’s market voucher for use at Community Foodworks Farmer’s Markets and Crossroads Farmer’s Markets.

Whether it is at a childcare center, as an entire community, or as a nation, creating a culture of healthy living is essential to the success of children and families. Through the Healthy Tots Wellness grant, CentroNía’s Food and Wellness team work with early childhood education centers to create wellness policies that encourage everyone to participate in healthy habits. CentroNía also advocates for improved access to healthy foods and nutrition education for early childhood programs when local and national policies are introduced and/or challenged.