KLAY collaborates with Nourish 1000 Days to serve healthy meals for children
KLAY Preschools and Daycare, a leader in the Early Childhood Education and Care domain, is restarting vegetarian meals for children across their kitchens further to a new partnership with Nourish 1000 Days – a premier organisation that supports maternal and child nutrition. These age-appropriate meals are freshly prepared in the KLAY kitchens and consist of Fruits, Vegetables, Whole Grains, Protein and Dairy. The food provided is low in sodium and saturated fats, easy to digest and prepared under hygienic conditions. Each nutritious meal is carefully curated to keep children healthy, happy, and active.
Commenting on the partnership, Arshleen Kalra, Head of Curriculum, KLAY said, “The last two years of the pandemic have been tough on children. Social isolation, lack of active lifestyle, erratic sleep and meal patterns have impacted their physical development. As children are transitioning to schools, there is also a need to build immunity and healthy routines. Nutritious food, along with active play is important now more than ever. Our partnership with Nourish 1000 Days is a step in that direction and we’re very excited about it.”
Backed by the notion that nutrition, along with a safe and stimulating learning environment, completes the holy trinity of physical, social and emotional development for children, Nourish 1000 Days and KLAY together are taking a big step towards enabling the child’s holistic development. Using fresh, seasonal, and regional produce, the meals at KLAY are backed by nutrition science, and attend to each child’s dietary needs and appeal to their regional palates. The menu includes breakfast, lunch, milk/milk alternative (which is offered post nap), a healthy snack, and fruit. There is also a special party menu reserved for celebratory days and a sick menu with recommendations of food to be provided from home.
Highlighting the importance of a healthy diet for children, Pooja R Singhania, Founder, Nourish 1000 Days said, “We know that 80% of brain development occurs in the first 1000 days of life, faster than any other stage of life! That momentum of development needs to be supported with the right quality and quantity of nutrition. The environment at Klay nurtures the child’s mind and we are joining hands to NOURISH their bodies so that they enjoy the learning process. We are delighted to partner with Klay to dish out delectable and wholesome plant-based meals for the impressionable minds #ModelingHealthyFoodChoices. This foundation, once laid, will enable a fit and conscious community in the future.”
Children consume food with all their senses, and therefore, the meals are loaded with an array of colours, flavours, aromas, and textures, through which children will uniquely experience nutrient dense plant-based food. Importantly, it reinforces the belief that eating together encourages children to share food, eat independently and predisposes them to make healthy choices in the long run. Children learn to eat when they see their friends eating in a social setup!