Ensuring that children grow and thrive is an essential part of the child care provider’s job. Feeding infants appropriately, serving well-balanced meals and snacks, preparing and serving foods safely, providing regular opportunities for children to be physically active, and teaching healthy habits are all important ways that child care providers can support healthy eating and physical activity, and reduce the risk of childhood obesity in our youngest children.
The following articles include specific information about feeding practices, healthy food choices and ways to encourage physical activity in a child care setting.
- Active Play
- Breastfeeding and Infant Nutrition
- Children and Weight
- Eating Behaviors and Challenges
- Food Safety
- Meals and Snacks
- Special Dietary Needs
- USDA Child and Adult Care Food Program
Outside Links Related to Nutrition and Physical Activity
Nutrition and physical activity are important issues in child care. The following links are some external websites that the eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care community has found useful in learning more about childhood obesity prevention in the child care setting.