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High quality
programs promote safe and healthy environments where children can thrive and
grow. Young children depend upon the adults in their lives to make healthful
choices for them and to teach them to make such choices for themselves
Nutrition
Just how much food do children need? According to the regulations food must be offered about every 2 ½ to 3 hours. Snacks or breakfast must be served upon arriving at morning care, and snacks need to be served to children after school. Children in care for five hours need to be served breakfast or lunch and a snack at the minimum. Basically, if children are hungry, feed them. Children do have small stomachs so they need small amounts of food often. A general rule of thumb is one tablespoon per year of age as a serving size. A two year old’s snack might be two tablespoons of applesauce, and one quarter of half a bagel and a quarter cup of water.
Children need a variety of foods from each of the food groups. The regulations provide the following guidelines:
Breakfast must contain:
Lunch or dinner must contain:
Snack must offer a beverage and at least two of the following:
Snack and mealtimes are social times-- make sure you sit down and eat with them. Serve family style, so that each child can serve himself to satisfy his hunger. This also gives the children opportunities to practice motor and social skills, to engage in conversation, and to have plenty of time to enjoy each other around the table.
Childhood obesity is a growing concern around the country. One in six children is overweight or obese by age six. What is your role in helping children in your care establish healthy eating habits? Many resources are available to you.
Nutrition
Just how much food do children need? According to the regulations food must be offered about every 2 ½ to 3 hours. Snacks or breakfast must be served upon arriving at morning care, and snacks need to be served to children after school. Children in care for five hours need to be served breakfast or lunch and a snack at the minimum. Basically, if children are hungry, feed them. Children do have small stomachs so they need small amounts of food often. A general rule of thumb is one tablespoon per year of age as a serving size. A two year old’s snack might be two tablespoons of applesauce, and one quarter of half a bagel and a quarter cup of water.
Children need a variety of foods from each of the food groups. The regulations provide the following guidelines:
Breakfast must contain:
- Fruit or vegetable or 100% juice
- A dairy product
- A grain product
Lunch or dinner must contain:
- A dairy product
- Source of protein – meat, fish, legumes, tofu
- A grain product
- Fruit and Vegetable – or two of one of these
Snack must offer a beverage and at least two of the following:
- Milk or milk product
- Source of protein – egg, legumes, meat, tofu
- A grain product
- Fruit or Vegetable
Snack and mealtimes are social times-- make sure you sit down and eat with them. Serve family style, so that each child can serve himself to satisfy his hunger. This also gives the children opportunities to practice motor and social skills, to engage in conversation, and to have plenty of time to enjoy each other around the table.
Childhood obesity is a growing concern around the country. One in six children is overweight or obese by age six. What is your role in helping children in your care establish healthy eating habits? Many resources are available to you.
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