2. Family Style Meal Service

3. Participants enjoy Family Style Meal Service Eat together Choose your own foods Serve yourself the amount of food you would like to eat

4. Family Style Meal Service  Reduces the fear factor in trying new foods  Social interaction and learning is enhanced  Helps to develop hand-eye coordination and dexterity with common eating and serving utensils and,  Even the youngest children can learn to serve themselves enhancing self-esteem

5. Family Style Meal Service Key Requirements: All required meal components placed on the table at the same time Adequate amounts of food are on the table, or readily available, to provide the minimum portion for all components

6. Family Style Meal Service Key Requirements (cont.)  Participants serve themselves  Supervising adults may help  Participants choose foods and portion sizes  A supervising adult must be seated at each table actively encouraging participants

7. Family Style Meal Service Point of Service Meal Count must be taken when:  participants are seated at the table and  all required meal components are on the table

8. Family Style Meal Service How participants can interact with the meal service:  Set the tables  Clear the tables  Assist with clean-up  Share conversation/learning

9. Family Style Meal Service Additional Advantages for Sponsors: Maximize food actually eaten by participants Minimize food waste Potentially significant food cost savings over time

10. Family Style Meal Service If Family Style Meal Service is the choice for your center, remember: All required components on the table at the same time Adequate amounts of all components are on table/readily available Participants serve themselves, choose own foods and the portion they desire Supervising adult must be at the table Adults may assist participants, as needed Point of service meal count is taken when:  all food components are on the table and  participants are seated at the table