At the end of the 'Kita is eating better' initiative, coach Irmgard Lüttiken presented the certificate of participation signed by Environment Minister Katrin Eder to the Nahbollenbach daycare center. The daycare center had been participating in the coaching project for daycare centers initiated by the state of Rhineland-Palatinate since November 2021. The aim of the project is to create the basis for conscious nutritional behavior and a healthy lifestyle among the children and to establish permanent structures for the formation of a sustainable, health-promoting diet and lifestyle in everyday daycare. And these goals have been fully achieved at the Nahbollenbach daycare center: "It's great how the concept is designed and practiced here," emphasized Irmgard Lüttiken.
The Nahbollenbach daycare center was one of 16 daycare centers in Rhineland-Palatinate to take part in the 2022/2023 coaching round of the 'Kita isst besser' initiative. The process initially involved discussions, seminars, workshops and numerous meetings with the personal daycare center coach. Together with Irmgard Lüttiken, all goals and measures were individually tailored to the Nahbollenbach daycare center. In addition to the children, teachers and housekeepers, the parents and the daycare provider were also involved. The project is now officially over, "but of course we will continue to integrate the lessons learned and experience gained into the day-to-day running of the daycare center," emphasized daycare center director Silke Fritsch. After all, the project has laid valuable foundations for a more conscious diet, which now needs to be consolidated.
"It is important for the implementation of such a project that it is supported by the entire team," explained coach Lüttiken. And that was and is the case at the Nahbollenbach daycare center. Project manager Tina Weber was particularly committed to implementing the various measures. The parents were brought on board - among other things with a 'What goes in the lunch box' campaign day - and even the Nahbollenbach open group got involved and planted raised beds and a herb patch in the outdoor area of the daycare center.
The participants at the final meeting were able to experience first-hand how well the project has become part of everyday life at the daycare center. It took place during breakfast time in the dining room. The children sat at the tables in a harmonious atmosphere, helped themselves to the buffet and ate the delicacies calmly and deliberately. "Of course, it wasn't like this from the start either, it was a learning process," reported deputy head of the daycare center Anja Pullem. The children are also actively involved in the preparation of the breakfast. After the meal, the dining room is then transformed into an education room where they can continue to engage with the topic using learning materials and role-playing games.
Katrin Schwarz, Deputy Head of the Youth Welfare Office, was also enthusiastic about the project and its implementation. "I think it's great that this initiative is being offered by the ministry and that the initiative has been taken up here locally and implemented so successfully." The valuable experience of the Nahbollenbach daycare center can certainly also be used for other facilities.