Winter Park Day Nursery Expanding its Successful Super Suppers Program

The Winter Park Day Nursery, which received a Think~Act~Be Healthy Communities initiative grant from the Winter Park Health Foundation to offer Super Suppers and nutrition education to its parents, is now sharing the success of its efforts with child care facilities in other parts of Orange County.

During January and February, Winter Park Day Nursery staff will begin offering nutrition education for parents and families of children at the Orlando Day Nursery.  They also will train staff members to provide the program.

Under the Super Suppers program, the Winter Park Day Nursery—which serves low-income families—has provided parents of its preschool children nutritious take-out meals prepared by its cook. In addition, parents can receive these meals at no-cost if they attend evening workshop sessions on how to prepare nutritionally complete meals that are quick, inexpensive and child-friendly.

Participating parents report stopping for fast food less often as a result of this program, according to Judy Nelson, Winter Park Day Nursery Executive Director. “They learn to cook low-cost, quick and healthy meals in the class and are provided with cookbooks and suggestions for cooking healthy at home,” she said.

Winter Park Day Nursery provided 356 Super Suppers to families at the center during its first year offering the program.