Organic Foods Statement:
Lotus Child Montessori serves whole organic foods.  This means shopping at farmers markets and stores that sell organic food for our snack items.  Our snack items consist of organic grains (usually gluten free) organic fruits and vegetables and proteins such as nuts and seeds. We are sensitive to the dietary needs and restrictions of our students and adjust our snack menu to accommodate the community. Lotus Child Montessori serves filtered water, reduced fat organic milk free of antibiotics and growth hormones as well as organic rice drink as a non-dairy option.  We believe that serving our children foods free of pesticides and other impurities gives them the best opportunity to develop to their fullest potential.

Snack Time:
In Montessori primary programs a snack table is set up for three children to sit at a time during independent work times. When a child is hungry and the table is available the children may serve themselves a snack following a posted menu (or with help from a teacher if the child is too young to follow a menu). Children are able to visit the snack table in both the morning and the afternoon (morning work time 9:20am-11:15am, afternoon work time 1:30-2:35). An additional snack will be available during the afternoon extended care between 3:00 and 5:00. Water is available at all times throughout the day including a pitcher of water at the snack station that children may serve themselves. If parents would like to provide their child with an additional healthy snack for AM extended care (7:30am to 8:30am) a place will be designated for children to eat during this time.

In our toddler class there is also a snack table for three children at a time during the morning work time. A teacher facilitates this snack table by serving the children as they rotate through. We use this special community snack time to practice grace and courtesy and manners. The children practice replying, “yes, please” and “no, thank you”, drinking out of glass cups and using a napkin to clean their hands and faces. Toddlers are often thought of as grazers when it comes to food. Our community snack table supports the toddlers in learning how to take turns, how to stay sitting while having food, allows them to try foods they may have not had before.

Lunch Time:
Lunchtime is from 11:45am to 12:15pm. Eating together is a wonderful way to build community at our school. Children staying for lunch should bring a well balanced low sugar lunch from home, the school staff will provide quick microwave warm ups to food that children prefer warm, the school provides organic cows milk, organic dairy alterative (soy, rice or almond) drink and filtered water during lunch. We encourage families to pack lunches in reusable containers and include cloth napkins for tidy up with after eating.