Nutrition Tools | Nutrition Guidelines | Tips
Nutrition Tools
USDA/ARS Children’s Nutrition Resource Center at Baylor College of Medicine recommends the Children’s BMI-percentile-for Age Calculator to determine whether a child is at a healthy weight for his/her height, age and gender.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) and the Department of Health and Human Services established MyPyramid, formerly called the Food Pyramid. Many other pyramids exist today including the Asian, Latin American, Mediterranean and Vegetarian diet pyramids. Many pyramids are designed for different populations. This site offers information about the basic principles of all food pyramids, differences in food pyramids, and how to use the food pyramids.
Placer-Nevada Counties University of California Cooperative Extension publishes a quarterly newsletter for preschool teachers, administrators, and students. It includes information specifically on nutrition and physical activity.
The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) includes information about gardening with children and has links to many sites about how to start gardens in schools or child care centers.
Nutrition Guidelines
Preschool/Childcare Providers’ Committee of the Get Healthy San Mateo County Task Force produced a set of recommendations on nutrition and physical activity entitled Nutrition and Physical Activity for Early Childhood Ages 1-5. Available in English and Spanish.
Public Health-Seattle & King County recommends that childcare staff make the 'moo've to 1% or fat free milk in your Childcare Program.
California Center for Public Health Improvement published a report that describes how preschoolers are increasingly overweight. Preventing Childhood Obesity: A Prop 10 Opportunity.
UCSF Childcare Health Program published Nutrition and Activity for Young Children: Raising Physically Fit and Well Nourished Children.
Tips
USDA Recipes for Child Care consists of a booklet and 2 CD-ROMs. The booklet describes how to work with recipes, adjusting recipes, food safety information, and much more. One CD includes the booklet text and a Supplemental Information technical assistance piece that has tips for cooking, preparation, and storage. A bonus CD of the Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs is also included.
Nutrition in Childcare -- the Best of Healthy Childcare has 22 nutrition articles from the nearly 10 years of healthy childcare along with dozens and dozens of nutrition resources. Topics include introducing new foods, foods for teethers and toddlers, the food pyramid, menu planning, food safety and sanitation, children and weight, and more.
USDA Food and Nutrition Information Center includes information on healthy snacks and lunches for preschool and elementary school aged-children and how to help your overweight child.
UCSF’s California Childcare Health Program wrote Healthy School Lunch Ideas
The Produce for Better Health Foundation’s Fruits and Veggies-More Matters campaigns lists the Top Ten Reasons to Eat More Fruits and Vegetables