Menu plans have been provided by the Niagara Region Public Health Department, Population Health Division and were designed by Melissa McEachern and Kimberly Green, Registered Dietitians.
Background Information
Feeding children at a daycare is an important job….giving kids a nutritious diet early in life can set them up for good lifelong health!
As a caregiver, you are a valuable link in the development of preschoolers' eating habits as well. The foods you serve, your staff’s attitudes toward eating, and the educational activities that your daycare provides will all help to shape their ideas about food and eating. You can make healthy eating come alive!
The best guide to a healthy diet for preschoolers is Canada's Food Guide to Healthy Eating. The Food Guide is designed for all healthy Canadians two years of age and older.
These menus were created using Canada’s Food Guide and the requirements of the Day Nurseries Act as a reference. The key to healthy meals and snacks is choosing healthy ingredients, so shop well before cooking!
GRAIN PRODUCTS
Flour – choose whole wheat flour when possible because it has more fibre and B-vitamins than white flour (however ‘all purpose’/white flour can be used successfully as well).
Bread products and crackers – choose whole wheat varieties where the first ingredient listed on the package says “whole wheat” or “100% whole grain flour”. Enriched flour is also a healthy choice, but whole grains will have more fibre and B-vitamins.
Rice – choose brown rice more often as it is a whole grain.
Pasta – whole wheat pasta will have a little more fibre than enriched pasta; choose a good variety of different pastas to add interesting shapes and colours.
VEGETABLES & FRUIT
Fresh vegetables and fruits – choose produce that looks fresh with no moldy or rotten spots.
Frozen vegetables and fruits – choose packages that are well-sealed and feel frozen solid (not mushy, as the package may have defrosted). Avoid frozen produce that has added fats (i.e. sauce or butter) or added sugar/syrup.
Canned vegetables and fruits – choose canned vegetables that have no salt added; choose fruits that are canned in juice instead of syrup.
MILK PRODUCTS
Cheese – choose packages that are well-sealed and do not have moldy areas.
Milk – choose lower-fat types like 2%, 1% or skim more often for children 2 years and older. Children younger than 2 years of age should receive homogenized (whole) milk
Yogurt – choose varieties that are 2% fat or less. Yogurt made without artificial sweeteners are preferred for children.
MEAT & ALTERNATIVES
Meat, poultry, and fish - choose lean meats and skinless chicken whenever possible. Keep meat cold before cooking, and cook thoroughly. Alternatives to meat, like dried peas, beans, and lentils are an inexpensive and healthy option.
Eggs – keep eggs, and foods made with eggs, refrigerated, even when cooked. Omega-3 eggs are a healthy choice, however they are not a necessary expense.
FATS & OILS
Margarine - to avoid trans fat, choose “non-hydrogenated” margarine. Look for these words on the margarine container, or read the label to make sure trans fats are “0” on the Nutrition Facts panel.
Cooking oil – choose cooking oils that are mainly ‘unsaturated’ like canola, olive, safflower, or sunflower oils.
A note about trans fatMany pre-packaged items such as cookies, crackers, puddings, etc. contain hydrogenated oils or trans fat. It is best to avoid these by choosing products that are trans fat free or better yet, make them from scratch!