Recent studies are showing that in the fight against childhood obesity, the focus should be shifted to local daycare centers. Childcare providers as well as instructors of CT early learning programs are responsible for our children while we’re away at work, and often times, that responsibility includes feeding our children.
The study published in the Journal of the American Dietetic Association suggests that the nutrition and physical development requirements for childcare providers in many states are too lax.
At our Stamford daycare and CT early learning center, we help to build a solid foundation through our Generation Healthy program & other CT early learning programs because we understand the significance of early exposure to healthy living in your child’s earliest developmental years.
As fellow parents, however, we know that ensuring proper dietary habits begins in the home. If you teach your child about proper nutrition at home, and those same guidelines are followed as part of your childcare provider’s CT early learning programs, your child will be on his or her way to a happy, healthy beginning.
Here are some nutrition tips that we follow when practicing healthy habits at home.
- When the snow melts away and spring has sprung, celebrate the greener weather with lots of equally green vegetables. Green veggies contain calcium as well as lots of other vitamins and minerals. March is National Nutrition Month and it’s also the month of Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Celebrate both by adding green food coloring to your scrambled eggs and read the Dr. Seuss favorite, Green Eggs and Ham.
- In the warm summer months, be sure to keep your child hydrated by drinking tons of water. Make it fun by freezing vitamin water in ice trays to add fun colors and a hint of taste to a regular glass of water. Summer is also a great time for refreshing fruit and veggie snacks like patriotic fruit salads with strawberries, bananas and blueberries.
- Apples are in abundance in Autumn! They are fat free, sodium free, cholesterol free and an excellent source of fiber. You can try your hand at homemade applesauce and spend quality time with the kids making delicious and surprisingly nutritious pies. Additionally, fall is full of fabulous veggies! Pumpkins, squash and sweet potatoes supply more nutrients.
- During the holidays, sugary treats are almost unavoidable. Indulge a little, but make sure to keep these goodies as treats for your children. Cut cakes into smaller slices and limit the number of cookies and candies that your child can eat. Do the same for yourself so you set a good example for your child. Share this information with your childcare providers so the same rules are followed when your child is not at home.
Rose, 
