All parents and caregivers want the best for their child when it comes to healthy eating. Many children spend a lot of the day in childcare. As a result, childcare providers play a big role in shaping your child’s eating habits. Read on to learn about tips on working with your childcare provider to make sure your child eats well.
Nutrition guidelines for childcare
Government regulations and nutrition guidelines for childcare vary across the country. Often these regulations and guidelines will include advice around how much and the type of foods that should be served, how to protect children with food allergies, and how often menus should rotate and where they should be posted. Visit your provincial or territorial government webpage to learn more.
Understand what your child eats at childcare
Use these tips below to help you better understand what your child eats at childcare.
Ask questions to the childcare providers and supervisors
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Ask to see the weekly menus so you know what your child is eating.
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Ask who created the menu plans and if they are following Canada’s Food Guide or the nutrition guidelines set out by the government.
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Ask how food is prepared, like “how is the pizza made?” Look for words that tell you how food is cooked like roasted, baked or poached instead of fried.
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Find out how meals and snacks are going. Ask what, and how much, your child is eating.
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Ask about the centre’s and provider’s practices around food safety, such as washing hands before preparing and serving food and how leftovers are packaged. To learn more about food safety, check out these articles: Food Safety and Children and Food Safety True of False Quiz: Test Your Knowledge.
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Ask about how meals are served: are they pre portioned or served family-style? Are children allowed to ask for more? Are children pressured to finish their plate? How meals and snacks are served can be just as important as what is served. Children should be free to decide which foods they are going to eat from what is served and how much they want to eat. Meal and snack times should be relaxing and free from distraction.
Plan ahead
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Talk about your child’s likes and dislikes. Talk about your cultural food habits and any dietary restrictions with your caregiver.
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Plan for any special dietary needs like food allergies with a dietitian. Talk about these needs directly with the childcare provider and supervisor.
Talk about your concerns
Look for these items on the childcare menu
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Plenty of vegetables and fruit
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Whole grain breads, cereals, pitas, tortillas, roti, crackers and pasta
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Beans, chickpeas, fish, soybeans, lentils, eggs, tofu, yogurt
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Snack foods made with little or no added fat, sugar or salt
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Water, milk and fortified soy beverage as the only beverage choices
These foods should be limited on the childcare menu
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Sugary drinks: Fruit drinks, fruit punches, fruit juice, pop, sports drinks
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Sweets: Cakes, cookies, donuts, chocolate, sweetened cereals, chocolate-covered granola bars, chips, , popsicles, ice cream, whipped cream or candy
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Deep fried foods
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Processed meats: Hot dogs, pepperoni sticks, bacon, sausages, luncheon meats/cold cuts
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Choking hazards for young children: popcorn, hard candies, grapes cut in half or quarters, hard vegetables are grated or cut thinly into strips, peanut butter and nut butters are spread thinly on crackers or toast and never on a spoon, and if served, hot dogs and sausages are cut into strips and then into bite-sized pieces.
Note: this is not a complete list. Other foods may also pose a risk for choking. To reduce the risk of choking, it is important that children always be sitting and free from distraction when eating.
Looking for recipe ideas? Try these kid-friendly award winning recipes.
How can a dietitian help?
If you are a childcare provider, you can work with a dietitian to help design menus that children will love and that are also nutritious and meet the nutritional guidelines. Dietitians can also provide nutrition workshops for staff and parents.
If you are a parent or caregiver, a dietitian can work with you to make sure your child is eating a balanced diet and getting all the nutrients they need to grow and be healthy. Connect with a dietitian today!
Bottom line
Childcare providers have a responsibility to provide your child with safe and nutritious foods, and a relaxing mealtime. Work with your childcare provider by asking questions, talking about your concerns and getting to know the types of foods available on the menu.
You may also be interested in:
Parent and Caregivers Influence on Children’s Eating Habits
Canada’s Food Guide
Healthy Lunch Ideas for the New School Year
This article was written and reviewed by dietitians from Dietitians of Canada. The advice in this article is intended as general information and should not replace advice given by your dietitian or healthcare provider.
Last Update – February 12, 2023