Best Practices for Healthy Eating Guide - Nemours

For Family Handbooks
At (name of program), we support breastfeeding mothers
and babies by: 1
n Providing a private, clean and comfortable place
for you to breastfeed or express milk. You are also
welcome to breastfeed your baby in his/her classroom
or other public space.
n Providing refrigerator storage of breast milk. Please be
sure to label your child’s bottles with his/her name, the
date, and the contents of the container.
n Training staff to appropriately handle and store breast
milk.
n Feeding based on your baby’s schedule as well as
hunger and fullness cues.
n Timing feedings based on your preference. For
example, if you want to breastfeed your baby at pickup,
we will not offer a bottle directly beforehand.
n Refraining from supplementing with formula or solid
foods without your permission.
n Displaying visual support of breastfeeding families.
n Connecting you with community support, if you
desire it.
At (name of program), we support your child’s healthy
food choices by: 2
n Role-modeling positive behaviors by eating only
healthy foods in the presence of the children.
n Providing nutrition education at least three times per
year, to teach children how to make healthy choices.
n Gently encouraging children to try healthy foods and
giving positive reinforcement when they do.
n Observing and supporting hunger and fullness cues.
n Serving only healthy foods and beverages that meet
best practice recommendations.
n Making water clearly visible and available to children
at all times, indoors and outdoors.
n Following healthy celebration guidelines.
n Providing nutrition education for our staff at least one
time per year.
n Refraining from using food as a reward or
punishment.
n Sitting with children at the table and eating the same
meals and snacks.
n Encouraging, but not forcing, children to eat
healthy foods.
Providing good nutrition for your child is a partnership.
We at (name of program) ask for your support:
n For packed meals from home, please provide:
• Fruits and vegetables
• Whole grain cereals, crackers, breads, pasta, etc.
• Protein such as lean meat, skinless poultry, fish,
cooked beans or peas, nut butters, eggs, yogurt
or cheese.
• Milk
n Please refrain from sending:
• Pre-fried and highly processed meats
(e.g., chicken nuggets, hot dogs, etc.)
• Chips and similar high-fat snacks
• Cookies, candy and similar sugary desserts
• Sugary drinks (e.g., sodas, fruit drinks, sports
drinks, etc.)
n For celebrations and holiday parties, please provide
healthy foods (especially fruits and vegetables). A list of
recommended age-appropriate foods will be provided.
1 Wisconsin Department of Health Services. Ten Steps to Breastfeeding Friendly Child Care Centers Resource Kit. Retrieved on May 7, 2013 from http://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/
physical-activity/Childcare/BFFChildCare.pdf
2 Benjamin, Sara. Preventing Obesity in the Childcare Setting: Evaluating State Regulations. Retrieved on May 9, 2013 from http://cfm.mc.duke.edu/wysiwyg/downloads/State_
Reports_FInal.pdf
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