Nutrition Policy

Policies help clarify program practices.

Having policies at your child care program related to nutrition will ensure that staff and families have the same understanding of program requirements and procedures. To achieve this, it is important that all employees understand and follow the same policies. Written policies are also helpful when explaining to parents how your program operates. Below you will find resources that will help you set nutrition policies in your home or center.

Best Practices

The resources on this page can help child care programs reach all of the following best practices:

  • “Always communicate the nutrition policy to parents, families and visitors.”
  • “Create and maintain a written nutrition policy that is available and followed. Include items from the nutrition key areas.”

Resources to develop nutrition policies 

  • Action Guide: For Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies

Summary: Guidelines for feeding practice policies and practices that support child nutrition. 
Source: Connecticut State Department of Education
Access: https://portal.ct.gov/-/media/sde/nutrition/cacfp/ccpolicy/child_care_act

  • Caring for Our Children Basics

Summary: Outlines a set of voluntary, foundational health and safety standards for early care and education programs. Based on best practices, these standards are designed to help protect children and support their healthy development in child care settings.
Source: National Center on Early Childhood Quality Assurance, Administration for Children and Families
Access: https://childcareta.acf.hhs.gov/sites/default/files/new-occ/resource/files/Caring-for-Our-Children-Basics.pdf

  • Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments

Summary: Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the Go NAPSACC assessments opens up a suite of planning, learning, and implementation tools to understand further what the health best practices are and how to reach them at your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Access: https://gonapsacc.org/our-focus-areas

  • Model Policies for Creating a Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Child Care Settings

Summary: This nutrition toolkit describes model policies and provides tips to on how to fulfill them.
Source: Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services, Bureau of Community Food and Nutrition Assistance
Access: https://health.mo.gov/living/dnhs_pdfs/ChildCareModelPolicies.pdf

  • Sample Child Care Nutrition Policy

Summary: A sample policy that allows a center to fill in the blanks and customize to meet their needs.
Source: South Carolina Child Care Services
Access: http://www.scchildcare.org/media/6941/GH_SAMPLE_Level_B_Nutrition_Policy.pdf 

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