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.
Child Care Menu Planning - Practical Guide
Menu Revision Tool
Responsive Feeding
Recipes
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:
- 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
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.
Recipes
- Canada’s Food Guide (Health Canada)
- www.unlockfood.ca (Dietitians of Canada)
- Foodland Ontario
- Cookspiration (Dietitians of Canada)
- Pulses.org
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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.
