Menu Planning and Supportive Nutrition Environments

The following resources were developed by the Ontario Dietitians in Public Health Child Care Working Group, to support child care providers in planning and preparing healthy food, as well as creating a supportive nutrition environment for children in their care.

*NEW* 2025 Nutrition in Child Care Settings eLearning Course
Child Care Menu Planning - Practical Guide
Menu Revision Tool
Responsive Feeding
Supportive Nutrition Environment
Recipes

*NEW* 2025 Nutrition in Child Care Settings eLearning Course

This interactive, two-hour online course is designed specifically for child care providers in Ontario. Based on the Child Care Menu Planning Practical Guide and other resources developed by Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH), the course supports child care settings in planning menus that align with healthy eating recommendations for children aged one year and older.

Click here to learn more or to access the course.

Child Care Menu Planning - Practical Guide

The Child Care Menu Planning - Practical Guide has been updated to help child care providers ensure all meals, snacks, and beverages served in child care settings meet healthy eating recommendations.

It includes information on:

  • menu planning
  • foods and beverages
  • amounts to prepare
  • a sample menu

Click here to download your copy.

A suite of additional resources has been developed to provide you with practical tips and tools to support menu planning recommendations:

Menu Revision Tool

The Menu Revision Tool will guide you through 3 simple steps to gradually make improvements to your menu. All documents can be downloaded and completed in an electronic format, saved and printed.

Responsive Feeding

Nurturing Children through Responsive Feeding describes how educators can nurture children in their care through responsive feeding practices and role modeling.

Strategies for Mealtime Success offers strategies to solve some common mealtime situations and promote positive eating habits.

Supportive Nutrition Environment

A supportive nutrition environment promotes and fosters a positive relationship with food. Ontario Dietitians in Public Health (ODPH) has created a set of resources to help child care settings implement these environments effectively.

Celebrations
Promoting Food Literacy in Child Care
Facilitating Family-Style Meals
Fundraising
Sample Policies

Recipes


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For more support or information, contact your Eastern Ontario Health Unit liaison or call 613-933-1375 or 1-800-267-7120.