Child and Adult Care Food Program
CACFP is an Indicator of Quality Child Care
One of the most important lessons a child will learn is healthy eating habits. Children learn these habits in a childcare home, center, or afterschool program which recognizes the importance of participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program as a way to help children grow and develop to their fullest potential. With guidance from the USDA Dietary Guidelines and Meal Patterns, caregivers work to establish and encourage healthy eating habits. Receiving nutritious meals early in life, as well as being physically active, is critical to the establishment of positive lifelong habits.
Top Five Tips for Picky Eaters
- Try & try again. Introducing new foods takes a lot of patience with picky eaters. Don’t try to force it. Implement the, “one bite to be polite” rule. It’s okay for children to not like certain foods but they won’t know unless they try it first. They just might surprise themselves and find a new favorite.
- Get them involved. Children are more likely to try something they are involved in creating. Have your kids help with the meal planning. Create new, fun names for classic dishes such as Monster Meatloaf. Then have them help with meal preparation. Give each child a job that is age appropriate such as washing vegetables, cutting fruit with plastic knives or stirring noodles.
- Explain the why. Talk to picky eaters as you offer healthy choices. Ask them, “Why are you eating carrots?” Teaching children about the food they’re eating and where it came from, encourages them to try it.
- Ask parents for help. Parents know their children best. Ask them what their children’s favorite foods are and what tricks may work at home. Working together, you can conquer the walls of a picky eater. Give parents a copy of your weekly menu to help them avoid serving the same dish at home.
- Make it fun. Mealtime should be a fun and engaging experience. Add color to foods. Who doesn’t like to eat green eggs and ham on Dr. Seuss Day? Cut sandwiches into shapes, make up imaginative names for fruits and vegetables, and introduce different ways to eat food, like using chopsticks.
From: National CACFP Sponsors Association
Get a copy of this new handout designed to help child care providers review and improve their child care record keeping process for CACFP:
