Action Guide for Child Care Nutrition and Physical Activity Policies

The goal of these policies and practices is to create an environment that consistently supports children’s health and learning by:

• providing clear and consistent messages that explain and reinforce healthy eating and physical activity habits;
  
• helping children learn to make healthy lifestyle choices;
  
• providing developmentally appropriate and culturally relevant nutrition education;
  
• providing quality physical education and daily opportunities for developmentally appropriate physical activity; and
  
• supporting and engaging families in promoting healthy habits.
  

The action guide includes best practices for promoting healthy eating and physical activity for children in child care from infancy through school age, based on current science, public health research, and national recommendations and standards. It can be used in a variety of settings, including Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) facilities (centers, family day care homes, at-risk afterschool centers and emergency shelters); Head Start centers; School Readiness programs; child care programs; early care and education programs; licensed centers; school-based preschool programs; and afterschool programs. It can also be used by sponsoring agencies, community organizations, local early childhood coordinating councils, municipalities and other groups interested in improving nutrition and physical activity practices in child care and education settings.

Commissioner's Letter (PDF | 51 KB)

Download entire Action Guide (PDF | 4.5 KB)

Download Action Guide by section:

• Cover, Contents, Preface, Acknowledgments and Acronyms (PDF | 951 KB)
  
• 1 - How to Use This Guide (PDF | 710 KB)
  
• 2 - Introduction (PDF | 693 KB)
  
• 3 - Eight Steps for Creating Local Policy (PDF | 792 KB)
  
• 4 - Nutrition Standards (PDF 1.29 MB)
  
• 5 - Eating Environment (PDF | 1.09 MB)
  
• 6 - Nutrition Education (PDF | 952 KB)
  
• 7 - Physical Activity (PDF | 1.01.MB)
  
• 8 - Communication and Promotion (PDF | 824 KB)
  
• 9 - Evaluation (PDF | 818 KB)
  
• 10 - Resources (PDF | 571 KB)
  
• References (PDF | 584 KB)
  
• Appendices
  
  
  
  • A - CACFP Meal Pattern for Children (PDF | 628 KB)
    
  • B - CACFP Infant Meal Pattern (PDF | 552 KB)
    
  • C - Connecticut Child Care Nutrition Standards (PDF | 808 KB)
    
  • D - How to Read a Food Label (PDF | 593 KB)
    
  • E - Evaluating Products for Compliance with the CCCNS (PDF | 673 KB)
    
  • F - Ideas for Healthy Celebrations and Events (PDF | 548 KB)
    
  • G - Physical Activity Guidelines for Children from Birth to Age 5 (PDF | 540 KB)
    
  • H - Physical Activity Guidelines for Children and Adolescents (Ages 6-17) (PDF | 642 KB)
  
  
  
  
• Glossary and Back Cover (PDF | 659 KB)