Farm-to-Table Garden Program

Our farm-to-table program gets the children planting and harvesting food from our Cleveland Child Care Garden of Eat-In. They get to see the delicious food on their plate the next day!

Nourishing Young Minds, One Meal at a Time

Farm-to-Table Garden Program

At Cleveland Child Care, we believe that nutrition plays a vital role in a child’s ability to learn, grow, and thrive. Since early 2012, we have gone beyond the required standards to provide high-quality, nutritious meals that support children’s development. Food isn’t just fuel—it’s an essential ingredient in shaping how children think, feel, and learn.

In 2013, we launched our Farm-to-Table Garden Program, an interactive experience where children plant, maintain, harvest, and enjoy their own fresh vegetables, fruits, and herbs. This hands-on approach fosters a deep connection to food while reinforcing healthy eating habits that last a lifetime.

Mealtime as a Learning Experience

Mealtime at Cleveland Child Care isn’t just about eating—it’s an opportunity for discovery! Teachers sit with children, modeling healthy eating habits and engaging them in meaningful conversations about nutrition, food properties, and sensory experiences like color, quantity, and temperature. These interactions make mealtime a fun and educational moment, nurturing curiosity and awareness around food.

Our Commitment to Healthy, Wholesome Meals

We are dedicated to serving fresh, nutrient-rich meals that meet the highest standards for health and wellness:

  • Antibiotic-, hormone-, and preservative-free meats
  • A different non-fried vegetable each day—primarily organic and pesticide-free
  • A variety of fruits served daily—predominantly organic and pesticide-free
  • Whole grain foods included in every meal
  • 100% pure organic fruit juice, limited to 4–6 oz. per day
  • No beverages with added sugars or sweeteners
  • No fried foods
  • Snacks free from trans fats and corn syrups
  • Fresh drinking water readily available in classrooms

Families who send meals from home must ensure they align with our nutritional guidelines, helping us maintain our commitment to healthy eating for all children.

At Cleveland Child Care, we don’t just serve food—we cultivate lifelong habits of wellness and nourishment.

Reaping what you sow

This garden was designed to spark the mind and curiosity of a child. It features playful winding pathways, a green bean tunnel, a vine fort, a child-sized picnic table with handcrafted tree stump chairs, and a bridge that children love to walk across.

The children help plant seeds, maintain the garden as well as harvest the produce. Sometimes the kids enjoy picking the vegetables and fruits off the vine and eating it right there at the moment.​

The vegetables and fruits that the children harvest go back to the onsite kitchen where the cook uses those items and incorporates them into our everyday meals for the kids. They get to see a direct result of their labors and enjoy the (literal) fruits of their work.

Step Up To Quality

At Cleveland Child Care, we believe in providing exceptional early learning experiences that go beyond the basics. That’s why we proudly participate in Step Up to Quality (SUTQ)—Ohio’s three-tier quality rating and improvement system for early learning programs.

SUTQ goes beyond the minimum licensing requirements to assess and enhance key areas of early education, including:

  • Learning & Development: High-quality curriculum, assessments, and child screenings;
  • Administration & Leadership: Supportive staff-child interactions, continuous program improvement;
  • Staff Quality & Professional Development: Ongoing education and training for childcare professionals;
  • Family & Community Partnerships: Strong family engagement and access to community resources.

Parent Testimonials

"Amazing staff. They’re always so supportive and attentive to my son and always provide me with lots of pictures throughout his day while I’m at work!

Caleb D

"My son has loved it from day one ❤️ which is most important to me. The teachers obviously love him and I can tell he loves them all back very much. Happy mama & baby here.

Shardell Y

"Cleveland Child Care is a great child care center, my niece has been going there for 3 years and she’s loves it. The teachers are amazing and they follow a meaningful curriculum.

Nicole P

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