Healthy Food at Preschool or Daycare

If your preschooler is in preschool or daycare, eating a meal or snack is probably part of the day. Whether you agonize over the details of what and how much your preschooler eats or you're happy to turn over feeding duties to the school, there are things you can do to make sure the food served is healthy.  

Learn About the School Food Plan

If the school is licensed by the state, the food served must meet specific standards. Generally, these standards follow the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and specify which food groups must be served during each meal or snack. Standards often specify that the same menu cannot be served each week, so you can feel good that your preschooler will be exposed to a variety of foods.

If your preschooler attends an in-home daycare or preschool or one that is not licensed by the state, talk to the director about the food plan.

Work With the School on Healthier Food Options

If you see saltines and raisins served at every snack, talk to the director about fresher or more varied alternatives. First realize that budgets, staffing and other resources usually impact food selections at school. Then be prepared with healthy food ideas or to help in the kitchen slicing fresh fruit! 

Include Healthy Food Themes

Your preschool should not only be serving healthy food, it should be part of the preschool day! There are many ways to integrate healthy food themes - healthy food show and tell, taste tests, talking about how food grows, simple gardening projects and more.

Resources

Lunch Lessons - Changing the Way We Feed Our Children

USDA Child Nutrition - Healthy Meals Resource System

Sustainable Table - Information for Schools

CSPI - Guide to Improving School Foods and Beverages

by Kati Chevaux

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