Child Care Menu Planning: A Guide for Parents

Hello busy parents! We know how challenging it can be to keep up with the latest food and nutrition information for your children. That’s why we’d like to share some highlights of the new child care menu planning guidelines. “Child Care Menu Planning – Practical Guide”, released by the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) in early 2024, helps child care providers ensure all meals, snacks and beverages served in child care settings align with the requirements set out by the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014. We encourage you to discuss these guidelines with your child care provider. Here are some key points to summarize the requirements and to help frame your discussion. 

1. Meal and Snack Patterns: One meal and two snacks are offered daily, depending on the duration of the child’s stay at child care. There should be a variety of choices from vegetables and fruits, protein and whole grain foods. Each meal should include foods from all three food groupings, along with cow’s milk to drink. At least one meal with plant-based protein and one egg or fish-based meal should be offered weekly.
2. Beverages: Water should always be available. Milk type depends on the child’s age. Fruit juice and sugary drinks should be avoided because they are low in nutrients and can lead to cavities.
3. Add Variety: Child care settings are encouraged to introduce new foods alongside familiar ones, being inclusive of different cultures. Dark green vegetables should be offered daily in child care settings.
4. Meal Timing: Consistent meal and snack times are important to encourage children to come to meals and snacks ready to eat. The routine helps them establish healthy eating habits. The duration of a child’s stay in care is also considered. 
5. Special Considerations: Child care settings should accommodate individual dietary needs, including allergies and intolerances. Child care providers will work with parents and guardians to find substitutions to ensure children’s safety.

Children are more likely to try new foods if they see their educators and parents enjoying them too. It is important to role model healthy eating behaviours by incorporating a variety of foods into your own meals. 

The guide is available online at https://www.odph.ca/practical-guide-1.  For more information, please visit the ODPH website at www.odph.ca/child-care-resources. 

 

Submitted by Ginette Blake BASc RD on behalf to the Middlesex-London Community Early Years Partnership