Teach With Purpose: Food is Love

At University City Children’s Center, we welcome dialogue around food and nutrition because we believe that food is more than just eating; food is love. We also know that nutrition is a driving factor in children’s emotional development and early childhood education.

Every day, UCCC’s Head Chef, Yvonne Booker, prepares breakfast, lunch and snacks with nutritious ingredients and a healthy dash of love. In addition to following the Child and Adult Care Food Program, meals are tailored to fit each child’s dietary needs (like vegan, pescatarian and gluten free) while keeping each meal as similar as possible. 

Classroom Dining: A Thanksgiving Feast

Children at UCCC eat in family-style dining, “as if they’re at a Thanksgiving feast,” said Chef Yvonne.

Instead of being presented with pre-portioned cafeteria trays, children are engaged in passing dishes, serving themselves and making choices. This helps them build fine and gross motor skills and gives them a sense of appropriate power during mealtime. 

Chef Yvonne also ensures food looks vibrant and tasty.

“Everyone eats with their eyes, especially children,” she said. “Presentation is very important. We as adults think it’s important…why wouldn’t children think the same thing?” 

School Meals: Garden to Table

In season, Chef Yvonne harvests fresh ingredients from UCCC’s two gardens — the Chef’s Garden and the Children’s Garden. While impossible to harvest everything from the small gardens, she includes as much as possible into the children’s meals.

By incorporating ingredients into the menu that the children grew, she provides an opportunity for pride and ownership. In gardening are many lessons in empathy and science as crops are planted, tended, harvested and cooked into the food they're consuming. 

The UCCC Way: Cooking With Purpose

In addition to her love of cooking, Yvonne enjoys watching UCCC’s children grow and develop from infants to toddlers. As she cooks with purpose, she helps these young learners develop their food palette, practice their motor skills, strengthen relationships and build a strong foundation for learning.

At UCCC, we know that food is more than eating; food is love. Join Chef Yvonne and our diverse staff who lead, teach, clean and cook with purpose and love. Take the next step in a fulfilling career. Teach with purpose at University City Children’s Center and LUME Institute.