New
- About the new nutrition guidelines and materials
Our Nutrition Guidelines for the licensed Childcare/Early Education were updated, and the changes went into effect May 2013. - Letter to Parents on Nutrition Standards
- Party Suggestions for Child Care Centers and Parents
- Healthy Lunch Box for Children
- Poster: Physical Activity
MSDH sample menus
Sample menus and other resources from MSDH appear at the end of this page.
Menu planning resources
- What's Cooking? USDA Mixing Bowl
Cookbooks and recipe tools from the USDA What's Cooking website. - Handbook of Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Creative ideas for meal planning and food preparation from the USDA, including key recommendations and best practices. - Recipes for Healthy Kids
Kid-approved recipes made from healthy ingredients from the USDA — available in home and school versions size from 6 to 100 servings. - Sample menus, fact sheets and posters
From the National Food Service Management Institute - Fruit and Veggie Quantity Recipe Cookbook
30 tasty fruit and vegetable based recipes from the New Hampshire Department of Health & Human Services - Nemours.org Guidelines
Best practices guidelines for healthy children that includes pictures of food portions based upon age - Picky Eaters Handout
Handout for staff and parents on how to deal with children's changing food preferences. - Weights, Measures and Portions Poster
A one-page poster on food measurements and serving sizes for scoop, dishes, and spoons from the National Food Service Management Institute, for the kitchen area of a facility
Nutrition resources
- National Resource Center for Health and Safety
The NRC's primary mission is to promote health and safety in out-of-home child care settings throughout the nation - National Food Service Management Institute
The National Food Service Management Institute provides information and services that promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition programs - Better Kid Care
Resources from Pennsylvania State University, including education tools for parents, activities for children, and snack ideas for home - Feeding Infants: A guide for infants in child care centers PDF
Guide with handouts that can be printed and given to parents for educational purposes - Alternatives to Using Food as a Reward PDF
One-page poster on ways that child care providers can help kids develop good food habits
Farm to School
- Farm to School and Farm to Preschool
Overview and resources for connecting children and students with farm-fresh food - Creating and Growing an Edible Schoolyard
The basic steps of creating and maintaining an edible schoolyard (PDF) - Serving Locally Grown Produce in Food Facilities PDF
Guidelines used by the University of Minnesota
Food Allergies
Reports
- Achieving a State of Healthy Weight
This report from the National Resource Center assesses child care regulations in all fifty states against the latest evidence-based best practices.
MSDH menu planning documents
Child care facility operators can use the Checklist below to review menus before submitting them in order to speed the approval process.
