Beverages Provided
Healthy drinks are essential for growing kids
The best practices (per GO NAPSACC) and the related resources in this section focus on serving healthy beverages in child care settings. Sugary drinks and juice may be convenient and popular, but they add unneeded calories and can lead to cavities. On the flipside, healthy beverages support children's growth, development, safe play, and disease prevention.
Best practices
Select each GO NAPSACC best practice goal below to find related resources.
"Drinking water is always visible and freely available to children, both indoors and outdoors."
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the social emotional assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids
Summary: Tips on how to reduce and replace sugary drinks, as well as resources for child care providers to compare beverage recommendations and swap out sugary drinks. Click on the “Professionals” tab to find simple yet informative handouts, fact sheets, shareable graphics, and more.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Click on the "Provide Healthy Beverages" circle to get information about water, what kind of milk to serve children of different ages, and 100% juices. This includes a link to a e-book about water that you can play/read to children, as well as a water tip sheet. Use the menu to the left to find more activities and resources.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Increasing Access to Drinking Water and Other Healthier Beverages in Early Care and Education Settings
Summary: Practical tools, recommendations, and strategies to improve beverage options in child care programs.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Making Healthy Choices: Week 10 – Think about your drink
Summary: Newsletter featuring tips for increasing water consumption and reducing drinks with added sugar.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
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
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children
Summary: Newsletters that may be downloaded or printed and distributed to parents to keep them involved in building healthy eating and drinking habits. Spanish versions are also available in the downloadable booklet listed in the left-hand menu.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply the tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 33-35 and 51-53.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
"Children are offered a 4–6 oz. serving of 100% fruit juice 2 times per week or less."
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the social emotional assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations
Summary: Find evidence-based beverage recommendations for young children, and understand what this means for a child care program.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids
Summary: Tips on how to reduce and replace sugary drinks, as well as resources for child care providers to compare beverage recommendations and swap out sugary drinks. Click on the “Professionals” tab to find simple yet informative handouts, fact sheets, shareable graphics, and more.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Click on the "Provide Healthy Beverages" circle to get information about water, what kind of milk to serve children of different ages, and 100% juices. This includes a link to a e-book about water that you can play/read to children, as well as a water tip sheet. Use the menu to the left to find more activities and resources.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Increasing Access to Drinking Water and Other Healthier Beverages in Early Care and Education Settings
Summary: Practical tools, recommendations, and strategies to improve beverage options in child care programs.
Source: Center for Disease Control
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
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply the tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 33-35 and 51-53.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
"Sugary drinks are never offered."
Be Smart About Sugar
Summary: Outlines the problem with sugary drinks and provides practical tips for child care professionals to reduce sugary drinks in their settings.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the social emotional assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations
Summary: Find evidence-based beverage recommendations for young children, and understand what this means for a child care program.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids
Summary: Tips on how to reduce and replace sugary drinks, as well as resources for child care providers to compare beverage recommendations and swap out sugary drinks. Click on the “Professionals” tab to find simple yet informative handouts, fact sheets, shareable graphics, and more.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Click on the "Provide Healthy Beverages" circle to get information about water, what kind of milk to serve children of different ages, and 100% juices. This includes a link to a e-book about water that you can play/read to children, as well as a water tip sheet. Use the menu to the left to find more activities and resources.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Increasing Access to Drinking Water and Other Healthier Beverages in Early Care and Education Settings
Summary: Practical tools, recommendations, and strategies to improve beverage options in child care programs.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Making Healthy Choices: Week 10 – Think about your drink
Summary: Newsletter featuring tips for increasing water consumption and reducing drinks with added sugar.
Source: Michigan State University Extension
Model Policies for Creating a Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Child Care Settings
Summary: Nutrition toolkit that 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
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children
Summary: Newsletters that may be downloaded or printed and distributed to parents as a way to keep them involved in building healthy eating and drinking habits. Spanish versions are also available in the downloadable booklet listed in the left-hand menu.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 33-35 and 51-53.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
"Only fat-free or skim milk is offered to children ages 2 years and older (excluding those with milk allergies)."
Be Smart About Sugar
Summary: Outlines the problem with sugary drinks and provides practical tips for child care professionals to reduce sugary drinks in their settings.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Patterns: Infant and Children Meals
Summary: CACFP meal patterns for adults’ and children’s breakfast, snacks, lunch, and supper encourage access to healthy foods and drinks. The infant plan includes the support of breastfeeding and fruits and vegetable consumption.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the social emotional assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations
Summary: Find evidence-based beverage recommendations for young children, and understand what this means for a child care program.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids
Summary: Tips on how to reduce and replace sugary drinks, as well as resources for child care providers to compare beverage recommendations and swap out sugary drinks. Click on the “Professionals” tab to find simple yet informative handouts, fact sheets, shareable graphics, and more.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Increasing Access to Drinking Water and Other Healthier Beverages in Early Care and Education Settings
Summary: Practical tools, recommendations, and strategies to improve beverage options in child care programs.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Model Policies for Creating a Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Child Care Settings
Summary: Nutrition toolkit that 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
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children
Summary: Newsletters that may be downloaded or printed and distributed to parents as a way to keep them involved in building healthy eating and drinking habits. Spanish versions are also available in the downloadable booklet listed in the left-hand menu.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 33-35 and 51-53.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service
Team Nutrition Resources for Child Care
Summary: Under the USDA, provides training and technical assistance to child care providers and program operators, CACFP best practices, nutrition and developmental education for providers and families, and resources to support a healthier environment.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
"Flavored milk is never offered."
Child and Adult Care Food Program Meal Patterns: Infant and Children Meals
Summary: CACFP meal patterns for adults’ and children’s breakfast, snacks, lunch, and supper encourage access to healthy foods and drinks. The infant plan includes the support of breastfeeding and fruits and vegetable consumption.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Go Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) Bilingual Self-Assessments
Summary: Free for providers. Contacting a consultant and completing the online version of the social emotional assessment opens a suite of planning, learning, professional development, and implementation tools to understand further what the best practices are and how to make them happen in your child care.
Source: Go Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (Go NAPSACC)
Healthy Beverage Consumption in Early Childhood: Recommendations from Key National Health and Nutrition Organizations
Summary: Find evidence-based beverage recommendations for young children, and understand what this means for a child care program.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Healthy Drinks, Healthy Kids
Summary: Tips on how to reduce and replace sugary drinks, as well as resources for child care providers to compare beverage recommendations and swap out sugary drinks. Click on the “Professionals” tab to find simple yet informative handouts, fact sheets, shareable graphics, and more.
Source: Healthy Eating Research
Increasing Access to Drinking Water and Other Healthier Beverages in Early Care and Education Settings
Summary: Practical tools, recommendations, and strategies to improve beverage options in child care programs.
Source: Center for Disease Control
Model Policies for Creating a Healthy Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment in Child Care Settings
Summary: Nutrition toolkit that 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
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children
Summary: Newsletters that may be downloaded or printed and distributed to parents as a way to keep them involved in building healthy eating and drinking habits. Spanish versions are also available in the downloadable booklet listed in the left-hand menu.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Summary: Collection of tip sheets for nutrition and physical activity. Each tip sheet focuses on a specific topic and includes a practical application section to help apply tips to a child care program for children ages 2 through 5 years old. See pages 33-35 and 51-53.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Team Nutrition Resources for Child Care
Summary: Under the USDA, provides training and technical assistance to child care providers and program operators, CACFP best practices, nutrition and developmental education for providers and families, and resources to support a healthier environment.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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