ATHENS FOREST KINDERGARTEN
NUTRITION
As an integral part of our flagship forest kindergarten program, we offer a nutritious, freshly prepared lunch each school day. After a full morning of play in the forest, the children wash their hands, gather together for a moment of gratitude, and enjoy lunch as a community.
A seasonal, vegetarian menu is offered with a priority placed on organic and local foods. AFK follows a grain+bean+veggie+toppings meal plan, which provides the children with a variety of macro and micronutrients. Probiotic-rich fermented vegetables, wholesome fats such as avocado, nuts, and seeds, and nutritional yeast are provided alongside our daily menu.
What’s on the Menu?
Here you will find a sample menu of what you may see in our Nutrition Program. We source local and organic whenever possible, and are excited to bring produce fresh from local farm partners in our area to the children in our care. Wholesome fats such as avocado, organic yogurt, and sunflower seeds will nourish the children after a morning of play.
Tuesday
Farro, Black Beans, Carrots
Avocado/Guacamole
“Sprinkles” *
Wednesday
Millet, Great Northern Beans, Baby Spinach
Plain Yogurt
“Sprinkles” *
Thursday
Polenta, Black Eyed Peas, Sweet Potato
Sauerkraut
“Sprinkles” *
Friday
Quinoa, Garbanzo Beans, Spring Peas
Hummus
“Sprinkles” *
* Sunflower Seeds, Nutritional Yeast, Chili Lime Seasoning, TJ Green Goddess Seasoning, etc.
Farm Partner program
AFKs Farm Partner Program is a community-driven initiative which connects us with local farms to provide fresh, organic, and local produce for our Nutrition Program. It brings us such joy to continue to grow relationships in our beautiful community, and to provide our students with the best, most nourishing foods.
Collective Harvest
For eight years Collective Harvest provided fresh, sustainably grown produce to the Athens-area while helping support local, family-owned farms. As a local Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) wholesale program, Collective Harvest brought Certified Organic or Certified Naturally Grown to the community each week, including a weekly donation to AFK. We deeply appreciate their support and wish them well since their closing in December 2022!
Hickory Hill Farm
We are so grateful to partner with Hickory Hill Farm! Hickory Hill is a four season, eight acre, USDA Certified Organic fruits and vegetables farm located in Carlton, just 30 minutes from Athens. The delicious food adds so many colors to our lunch and allows for continued conversations about seasonal foods.
gardening program
AFKs Gardening Program brings the practical experiences and wonder of tending a garden to our students. Through daily collection of compost after lunch and snack time, and regular afternoons spent in the garden planting seeds, watering, weeding, and harvesting, the children explore science, life cycles, sustainability, and patience and working together.
