Dylan Allanson is the Health & Nutrition Coordinator at WNCSource, a community organization and Head Start grantee in Hendersonville, NC. Dylan recently joined the advisory committee for the North Carolina Farm to Preschool Network, co-facilitated by ASAP’s Growing Minds.
Why is farm to school and farm to preschool important to you?
It is never too early to start teaching children about their relationship with the food they consume and where their food comes from. Dietary behaviors start early and follow individuals through their lifespan. I believe farm to preschool only helps improve that relationship. Food in general is so important to culture and identity, we want our children to learn about all of that.
Tell me about your role with WNCSource.
The health team at WNCSource aims at making healthcare more accessible and one less obstacle for our enrolled families in Henderson, Transylvania, Rutherford, and soon to be Polk counties. This ranges from making sure children are up to date on their medical and dental visits, providing transportation to appointments and connecting families with providers and other resources that have the capacity to assist. In my position as Health and Nutrition Coordinator, I also operate the CACFP program that ensures balanced meals and snacks for children while they are in our care.
How have you been able to use ASAP and Growing Minds resources in your work?
I have been with WNCSource for about one year now, and ASAP and Growing Minds have been an incredible resource for our organization. In the past year our teachers have received training for the Growing Minds curriculum, which has improved teacher buy-in for farm to preschool. We received an equipment mini-grant for our sites that is going toward “cooking in the classroom kits.” Our home-based program has taken multiple trips to Bearwallow Valley Farms, and this spring we are starting some raised beds and compost in our outdoor learning environment! Additionally, [program coordinator] Debbi Timson is an active member on our Health Services Advisory Committee, and is so responsive to any of my questions! We love collaborating with ASAP.
What are you hoping to bring to (and/or gain from) the Farm to Preschool Network as part of the advisory committee?
I love working behind the scenes on projects and creating a final product. I used to work in Rural Public Health Nutrition Research with the University of Virginia and sometimes I miss it. The advisory committee reminds me of the Community Based Participatory Research that involves stakeholders in every step of the development process instead of researchers assuming what’s best for the target population. I am also a registered dietitian, so adding that perspective to the mix is helpful.
What are some of your favorite spring activities to share with kids?
I might sound cheesy here, but anything that highlights the transition from winter to spring. Sometimes as adults we forget about how incredible spring time really is. Teaching that to children helps us relive that.