Other Webcasts to View Why Wellness? An Overview of the Child Obesity Epidemic and Prevention Strategies in the Early Care and Education Setting Introduction to Active Early/Healthy Bites: WI Guides for Improving Childhood Physical Activity and Nutrition Active Early…Developing and Implementing Physical Activity Policies (Best Practices)

Nutrition for Children Ages 1-12 Fruits & Vegetables Grains & Breads Meat & Meat Alternates Beverages Nutrition for Infants Infant Feeding Practices Infant Beverages Infant Foods Nutrition Environment Menu Planning Children with Disabilities or Other Special Dietary Needs Meal Time Environment Family Style Meal Service Role Modeling Picky Eaters Locally Grown Foods Gardening Nutrition Education for Staff, Children and Parents Foods Brought From Home Celebrations Fundraising Staff & Work Place Wellness Appendix 3

Each topic includes: Serve These, Instead of These - Recommendations Why? – Rationale How? – Action Steps Sample Program Policies 4

Recommendations Nutrition Sections: – “Serve These – Instead of These” Highlighting the food options a facility should choose and those they should limit or avoid Nutrition Environment Sections: – Best practices: What a facility should be doing 5

Why? - Rationale This section answers the “why” question behind the recommendations Science-based recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, American Academy of Pediatrics, Institute of Medicine, American Dietetics Association and other professional organizations 6

How? – Action Steps Ideas of things you can do to help implement recommendations at your facility 7

Sample Program Policies Provides sample program policies that you can use as is Providers may create their own policy that is not in the guide 8

Success Stories Quotes 9

Healthy Celebration Ideas Birthday Request Form 10 Appendix H

Sample Letter to Parents with Celebration Ideas 11 Appendix I

Nutrition & Physical Activity Program Policy 12 Appendix J

Program Policies Current, clearly written and easily accessible Consult with those affected by policy (staff and parents) before implementing new policies or changes Sample policies may be used as they are written or change to meet needs of your program

Sample Program Policies Nutrition for Children Ages 1-12 Fried or pre-fried vegetables (e.g. French fries, hash browns, tater tots) are not served. These items will be homemade and baked. Juice will be served one time per week

Sample Program Policies Nutrition for Infants To support breastfeeding: Staff is trained on how to work with breastfeeding mothers and how to properly handle breast milk Sweetened grains/baked goods will not be served at meals or snacks

Sample Program Policies Nutrition Environment Children receive nutrition education once a week or more. Included are reading books related to food, eating activities, games that promote healthy eating and cooking projects. Foods from home are not allowed when your child does not like what is on the menu. We offer a variety of foods and all children will be encouraged, but not forced, to try all foods. It may take children times of being exposed to a new food before they decide if they like it or not.

Questions??? For more information, contact DPI at Download a copy of Healthy Bites and other resources at:

This project has been funded at least in part with Federal funds from the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The contents of this publication do not necessarily reflect the view or policies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, nor does mention of trade names, commercial products, or organizations imply endorsement by the U.S. Government.