Nutrition

Mealtime can be a pleasant time if caregivers remember that they as well as the child each have a role to play. A child’s role is to decide how much to eat and a caregiver’s role is to make sound nutritional decisions regarding meals and snacks.

Children ages 1 to 5 will unusually:

• Eat when they are hungry
• Eat small amounts of food more often
• Learn by watching others. If adults eat a variety of foods, children are more likely to try more foods
• Try a new food when served along with a favorite
• Stay healthy if they are active each day

Mealtimes are pleasant when caregivers:

• Let children help plan and prepare part of the meal
• Make mealtime seem like a family time. Children enjoy eating with others.
• Start with small servings
• Serve new foods when the child is happy and rested
• Expect spills. Children can be messy eaters

• Allow the child to determine how much or whether or not to eat. Forcing the child to eat is not always helpful.
• Turn off the television. Children get easily distracted

Child-Sized Servings:

A serving for a 1-5 year old child is smaller than an adult size portion. One child-size serving is:

• Bread/Grains?. 1/2 slice of bread, 1/4 cup of pasta or rice, 2 2-inch square crackers, 1/2 cup of ready-to- eat cereal, 1/4 cup cooked cereal
• Vegetable? 1/4 cup of cooled vegetable, 1/2 cup of vegetable juice, a few pieces of raw vegetables (for children over 3 years old)
• Fruit? 1/2 small raw, 1/4 cup canned, 1/2 cup 100% juice
• Dairy? 1/2 cup milk, 1/2 cup yogurt, 1-inch cheese cube, 1 slice processed cheese
• Meat?1 ounce cooked meat, fish, or poultry, 1/2 cup cooked dry beans/peas, 1 egg, 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• Fats/Oils?Margarine, butter, vegetable oil, mayonnaise and other fats are needed by children. Three teaspoons of fat can be added to food used in cooking each day.
• Sweets?candy, pie, donuts, cake, soda, and fruit flavored drinks provide energy but few vitamins and minerals and should be used sparingly

Choking Dangers:

Children under 3 years old are more likely to choke on small, round or sticky foods like:

• Hot dogs
• Nuts
• Raw vegetables
• Popcorn
• Candy
• Peanut butter
• Gum

The Child and Adult Care Food Program

Reimbursements for food expenses are available through the USDA and Child and Adult Care Food Program (CaCFP). Family Child Care homes can participate in the CaCFP through a local sponsoring agency. You can contact your local Mid-Coast Resource Development Center for a list of food program sponsors. Local CaCFP’s reimburse child care programs for food expenses based on the recorded number of breakfasts, lunches, dinners, and snacks served to enrolled children. Food costs are the largest deductible expense a program will have. Keeping receipts, copies of menus, attendance records, and an up-to-date record of child care food expenses will help come tax time. Some providers fear joining a CaCFP because they worry that the additional income they receive could raise their taxes. This is almost never the case. Belonging to a CaCFP will also provide a program with training and technical assistance.