The health and safety of your child is a child care provider’s key focus. If your child is in care for more than a couple of hours a day, he or she will need to eat. If your child is anything like mine, it seems like he doesn’t stop eating! How meals and snacks are supplied in child care settings varies widely. Dayhome providers are caring for your child in their own home meaning that they will usually provide all meals and/or snacks. Child care centres can choose to either provide meals and snacks or to require parents to provide them. Either way, it is the responsibility of the child care provider to ensure that each child is nourished throughout the day.
In my little boy’s preschool, parents are required to send a lunch (snacks are supplied by the centre). So far this year, I am enjoying packing his lunch. In fact, talking about what is in his lunchbox is one of the ways I ease the transition into preschool each morning. He is very excited when he finds out he has a homemade muffin or “circle cheese” (his words!) to look forward to.
Each meal must include all four of the food groups– this can be tricky some days! According to Canada’s Food Guide, the food groups are: vegetables & fruit, grain products, milk & alternatives, and meat & alternatives. If your child’s meal does not
contain all four, the child care provider will have to provide what is missing. Some centres may have an additional charge for this.
If the meal and snack is centre-provided, it is essential that you ask questions about what your child will be eating. There should be an array of nutritious food available, including a variety of flavours, textures, colours, and temperatures. Snacks provided should include two of the four food groups and meals should include all four. Be sure to check the parent board for the posted menu. Interestingly enough, in this setting, your child may be more willing to try new foods, especially when they see their friends eating it too!
If your child has a food sensitivity or allergy, it is important to make certain that the provider is able to accommodate it. The majority of centres have “peanut or nut free” environments, but, it is still best to ask first. If there are cultural considerations that the provider needs to know about, be sure to communicate them.
Meal times while in
Medicine Hat & District Child Care Association
In Partnership With Southeast Alberta Child & Family Services Authority
www.mhdcca.com 41074442•12/06/11
Building a Strong Foundation in Child Care Since 1989. 4
CHILDCARE CHATTER
child care are an excellent opportunity for children to talk about their day, their families, or what is coming up tomorrow. While children are eating or drinking, child care professionals should sit with them to ensure the children are safe and to help facilitate conversation.
In addition, many
centres and providers involve children in snack or meal preparation. Sounds like a lot of fun, although a little messy sometimes!
For more information on nutrition guidelines for child care providers, please visit the following website: http://www.
healthyalberta.ca/Documents/FINAL_ Nutrition-Guidelines-AB-2011.pdf
Jennifer Usher is the Coordinator of the Medicine Hat & District Child Care Association (
www.mhdcca.com)
JENNIFER USHER
Medicine Hat & District Child Care Association
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