Child Care Centres

Child care providers have an important role in helping children develop a positive relationship with food. Children consume at least half of their daily meals and snacks at child care, making food provided in child care settings an opportunity to offer nutritious foods and expose children to new foods. How you approach feeding and mealtimes is also just as important as what you offer.

 Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) have developed resources to support child care providers in planning and preparing meals and snacks that meet healthy eating recommendations for children one year of age or older. These resources help providers meet the food and drink requirements set out in the Child Care and Early Years Act: section 42 of Ont. Reg. 137/15 and reflect current best practices for creating supportive nutrition environments in child care settings.

• Child Care Menu Planning Practical Guide (2024): Includes information on menu planning, choosing foods and beverages, amounts to serve, and a sample menu.
• Additional resources to support menu planning:
  • Modifying Recipes to Meet the Practical Guide
  • Increasing the Use of Plant-Based Proteins
  • Common Food Allergen Substitutions for Child Care Settings
  • Sample Menus
  • Reducing Food Costs and Environmental Impacts
• Responsive Feeding in Childcare (2024)
• Paint Your Plate with Vegetables and Fruit – A Toolkit for Ontario Child Care Providers 

 For more information on food and eating in child care settings, reach out to healthyeating@swpublichealth.ca