Nutrition in CHILD CARE

Early mealtime experiences influence children’s food acceptance. They also influence a child's ability to self-regulate their own food intake based on internal cues for hunger and fullness. The childhood mealtime environment shapes eating habits that continue into adolescence and adulthood.  

Child care providers know that some children can be picky about what they eat. For this reason, it is important to serve a wide variety of foods for meals and at snack time. Some children are naturally more sensitive to taste, smell, or textures. Did you know some children need to try a new food 10 times of more before they decide they like it? Wait at least a week between trying a new food again.

Family style meal service: Many child cares are back to family-style meal service. When children pass and request foods during mealtimes, they learn social skills and build fine motor skills. For young children, mealtimes offer opportunities to develop confidence, practice language, and even acquire math concepts.

Children’s health depends on adults providing a variety of healthy foods throughout the day. Practicing safe food handling, fostering self-regulation, and role-modeling during mealtimes are also important mealtime considerations. 

Here are some other things to try as you develop your menu.

• To help children stay full longer into the evening, try offering protein foods for afternoon snack. Examples include low-fat cheeses, hummus, sunbutter or alternatives such as WOW butter, low-fat yogurt, or milk.
• Pair these foods with foods high in fiber: Whole-grain crackers or bread, couscous, unsalted popcorn, fresh whole fruits such as apples or pears, oravocados.
• Try offering vegetables at breakfast or for morning snack and include more fresh fruits in the afternoon. Here are tools and ideas for offering more fruits and veggies in your child care: 
  • Add fresh veggies to omelets, scrambles or breakfast wraps. 
  • Serve a variety of salads. The more color the better.
  • Try cucumber wheels during morning snack.
• For more ideas on how to incorporate vegetables into your menu: Vary Your Veggies | MyPlate
• Try to incorporate multicultural foods into your menu. Here are some examples:
  • Chicken and veggie couscous 
  • Baked egg rolls
  • Curry vegetables
  • Veggie Stir fry
  • Tabbouleh 
  • More multicultural food recipes and ideas are available from the USDA Food and Nutrition Service or ask families to provide their own recipes from home.

Do you have questions or would you like assistance with menu planning? Please reach to our team at shd.childcarehealth@co.snohomish.wa.gov or by phone at 425.252.5415

Protect kids in the sun

The weather is getting nicer and it's time to spend more time outside. As you plan your day, it is important to keep in mind the time of day you will go out and make sure you allow enough time to apply sunscreen if children will be exposed to the sun's rays. Here are some important things to remember:

• Limit direct sun exposure between 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, when UV rays are strongest. Spend time outside earlier in the day or find a shady space to play. If you don't have a naturally shady spot, you can make one with a tent, canopy, or sheet.
• There are different types of ultraviolet (UV) rays that make sun protection essential when spending time outdoors. Broad-spectrum sunscreens protect against both UV A and UV B rays that can lead to long-term problems such as skin or other types of cancer.
• Apply the right type of sunscreen - use a broad-spectrum sunscreen that is at least 15 SPF. Fragrance-free sunscreens with zinc oxide and titanium dioxide are usually safe and effective. Sunscreens that have oxybenzone should not be used.
• Put the sunscreen on children at least 15 minutes before going outside, so it can be absorbed.
• Sunscreen should never be used on infants under 6 months old, though spending time outside is still important. For these infants, stay in the shade and use protective clothing such as hats or umbrellas.
• Do not use aerosol sunscreen so that you and the children do not breathe it in. 
• Remember to check the sunscreen’s expiration date. Sunscreen without an expiration date works for no more than 3 years. If families bring their own sunscreen, it is recommended that their sunscreen has an expiration date. 
• Make sure families have filled out an updated sunscreen application form.
• If a child rubs sunscreen into their eyes, wipe the eyes and hands clean with a damp cloth.
• Have children wear youth-size and shatter-resistant sunglasses with at least 99% UV protection and/or a wide-brimmed hat. 

For more information on sun safety visit the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) sun safety page or the Caring for Our Children guidelines. 

Emergency/ Disaster Plan Template

In 2013 the Child Care Health Outreach Program (CCHOP) team created a Disaster/ Emergency plan template and at this time our template is no longer reflective of the most recent WAC changes. The CCHOP team intends to update this template as time allows.

WAC 110-300-0470: Emergency Preparedness Plan

At this time please be advised of the following requirements that must be included in your plan:

• Evacuation floor plans must be printed and attached to the Emergency Preparedness Plan.
• The method by which parents/ guardian will be notified in the event of an emergency.
• A plan for what you would do if you had an emergency and children may be left unsupervised.
• Items required to be taken upon evacuation need to be listed in the Disaster Plan.
• Emergency preparedness plans must be reviewed annually (and when updated) by the director and with all program staff. Staff must sign that they have reviewed the plan each year.

Please review WAC 110-300-0470 and make sure your plan meets these requirements.