Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children - New Mexico Kids

Introduction: Provide Healthy Food and Activity Choices Every DayProvide Healthy Food and Activity Choices Every DayAs a child care provider, you help create ahealthier generation by taking steps to preventobesity and encouraging healthy habits that lasta lifetime. Whether you work in a large child carecenter or provide child care in your home, youhelp children learn about healthy food choicesand being physically active.Studies show that about one in five children areoverweight or obese by the time they reach their6th birthday 1 and over half of obese childrenbecome overweight at or before age 2. 2 Diseasesand health issues that were once mainly seenin adults are now becoming more common inchildren and adolescents with excess body fat. 3There are ways to help children in your caredevelop healthy habits. The meals and snacksyou serve should provide nutrients children needto be healthy, without too much sodium, solidfats, and added sugars. You can lower the risk offoodborne illness by making sure that the food issafe to eat, and the areas where food is preparedand served are clean. You provide opportunitiesfor active play that include more movement andless time in front of a television or computerscreen. The USDA’s Child and Adult Care FoodProgram (CACFP), which serves millions ofchildren across the United States, 4 provides agreat opportunity to give children the best startwhen it comes to healthy eating and physicalactivity.Good nutrition and physical activity worktogether to promote healthy growth anddevelopment. While you may not have all theanswers, helping young children learn to makegood food and activity choices is one of thegreatest lifelong gifts you can give them. Thegood news is that the tips in this handbook giveyou specific ways to support children and theirfamilies in the four important areas of providinghealthy food, following food safety practices,encouraging active play, and limiting screen time.The tip sheets in this handbook cover fruits,vegetables, dry beans and peas, meat and meatalternates, whole grains, milk, sodium, fats andoils, added sugars, water, food safety, providingopportunities for active play, encouraging activeplay, written policies and practices that promoteactive play, and the importance of limiting screentime. The tip sheets include recommendations toimprove the meals you serve in your child careprogram and, along with other online resources,can help you choose the best foods and activitiesfor the children in your care.Note: Throughout this handbook, the term childcare includes early care and education and daycare. The term active play means physical activity,which includes all types of physical movement.1. Ogden, C.L., Carroll, M.D., Curtin, L.R., et al., (2010). Prevalence of high body mass index in U.S. children andadolescents, 2007-2008. Journal of the American Medical Association, 303(3), 242-9.2. Harrington, J.W., Nguyen, V.Q., Paulson, J.F., et al., (2010). Identifying the “Tipping Point” Age for OverweightPediatric Patients. Clinical Pediatrics, 49(7), 638-643.3. U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines forAmericans, 2010. 7th Edition, Washington, DC: U.S. Government Printing Office, December 2010.4. Child and Adult Care Food Program. http://www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care/2Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food ProgramIntroduction • http://www.teamnutrition.usda.gov/library.html