Healthy Eating for Children 
    in Childcare Centres
   A booklet to help you understand 
   the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines
   for Children and Youth
    Easy to read
    Simple steps
    Everyday ideas
           Healthy Eating for Children in Childcare Centres                                                     October 2013
           What’s inside this booklet?
           About this booklet                                                                                           2
           Why is healthy food important for children?                                                                  4
           How can I help children eat healthy food?                                                                    5
                Use Canada’s Food Guide (CFG)                                                 5
                Learn about serving sizes                                                     7
                Read labels on food                                                           9
                Use the Alberta Food Rating System
                   from the Alberta Nutrition Guidelines
                   for Children and Youth
                    What is the Food Rating System?                                          13
                        Choosing vegetables and fruit                                        14
                        Choosing grain products                                              16
                        Choosing milk and alternatives                                       20
                        Choosing meat and alternatives                                       24
                    A day of healthy food                                                    28
                Serve healthy drinks                                                         29
                Serve healthy snacks                                                         30
                Make a plan for special days                                                 31
                Help children enjoy healthy food                                             32
           Food safety                                                                                                 33
           Costs                                                                                                       34
           Resources                                                                                                   35
           Favourite foods                                                                                             36
           © 2013 Government of Alberta
           Healthy Eating for Children in Childcare Centres                                                      October 2013
           About this booklet
           Who is this booklet for?                                  Food guidelines
           This easy-to-read booklet is for people                   Healthy food is important for children. 
           who own or work at a childcare centre.                    This booklet has food guidelines 
                                                                     for licensed childcare centres. These 
           Childcare centres include:                                guidelines are from the Alberta 
            daycare centres                                         government. Many people helped 
            nursery schools                                         make the guidelines.
            preschools                                              Children often eat food away from 
            family day homes                                        home. For example: in childcare centres.
           This book is also for parents, aunts,                     How can childcare centres help children 
           uncles, grandparents and other people                     eat healthy food? This booklet will give 
           who are taking care of young children.                    you everyday ideas.
              More information
              This booklet helps explain the Alberta 
              Nutrition Guidelines for Children and 
              Youth. 
           2                                           About this booklet
           © 2013 Government of Alberta