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Healthy Meals & Nutrition

Healthy habits start early. Give your child the fuel they need to learn, grow, and thrive every day!

Kids ‘R’ Kids at Avalon Park is dedicated to every facet of a healthy developmental environment. Food is incredibly important in creating a healthy foundation and brain fuel to learn and grow. Every morning is an opportunity to give a healthy start to the day. We build our program by combining the USDA’s CACFP meal guidelines with MyPlate’s child nutrition advice. We aim to deliver balanced, nutritious meals and snacks throughout the day.

What are the USDA CACFP Nutrition Standards?

The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) nutrition standards meet nutritional needs and provide well-rounded meals. What do we make sure to emphasize?

Fruit and vegetable focus
Incorporating whole grains
Lean proteins and healthy meat alternatives
Low-fat or fat-free dairy options
Minimizing added sugars and saturated fats

MyPlate Framework for Kids

At the heart of this framework, we follow the guide: half the plate of fruits & veggies, making sure at least half of all grains are whole, and balanced portions of protein, dairy, and healthy alternatives. How are some easy ways to do this? Let’s take a quick look below!

Make sure to add variety to every meal! A colorful and balanced meal is a healthy and nutrient-rich meal. Every day we offer fruit, vegetables, whole grains, protein-rich options, and low-fat options.
Think twice about drink choices. Water is always a great choice, but if you’re looking for other options consider fat-free or low-fat milk. Keep sugary drinks to the minimum, and if you do want a sweet drink, reach for fruit juices over sodas.
Ensure healthy portion sizes. Following the MyPlate guidelines, you’re more apt to keep child-sized portions and support healthy growth and development.

Bringing Home Healthy Nutrition

Healthy lifestyle choices are easier to live by if they become normal and part of daily routines at home too. There will be lessons throughout the school year that speak directly to food and nutrition. But there are easy ways to follow through with these lifestyle choices at home, too.

Change up food options to encourage a widespread diet. Daily access to food groups can encourage trying new fruits and vegetables on the regular.
Encourage healthy snacking — keeping items such as cheese, yogurt, cut vegetables, and whole grain crackers in the house makes healthy eating accessible.
Try to make time to eat together. This encourages sitting down to a meal that isn’t as fast and rushed. This promotes mindful eating and positive habits.
Include kids in the cooking and eating process. You can allow them to be in the process from shopping, cooking, measuring, and even naming the dishes. This helps to foster curiosity and excitement around healthy food.

Why Healthy Eating is So Important

Research shows that structured and nutritious meals reduce the risk of obesity and fosters a long-term, healthy relationship with eating. It also provides strong growth and healthy bones. Did you know healthy eating also supports cognitive development and learning? The benefits extend beyond physical fitness and an important thing to establish while kids are young. Let Kids ‘R’ Kids Avalon Park help you and your kids develop healthy eating habits everyday!