Child Feeding Practices
Support children's growth and development with feeding practices that encourage lifelong healthy habits.
The best practices (per GO NAPSACC) and the related resources in this section focus on feeding practices that help children learn to listen to their bodies and decide whether they are hungry or full. This is foundational to future eating habits. Supportive feeding practices also help guide children in trying new or less preferred foods and form healthy relationships with food and eating in general.
Best Practices
Select each GO NAPSACC best practice goal below to find related resources.
"Teachers always praise children for trying new and less-preferred foods."
Create a Positive Meal Environment
Summary: This document was created as a supplement to the Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. It contains tips on how to create an environment that encourages positive eating habits.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
Food Critic Activity
Summary: A template for children to rate a new food.
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 appropriate 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)
Launch Your Day with Breakfast! Stickers
Summary: Use these stickers to help promote eating breakfast in nutrition lessons or during mealtimes. They can be downloaded or ordered from Team Nutrition.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Make Today a Try-Day!
Summary: Poster and sticker set that you can use in your child care to encourage children to try new foods. Available by download or can order from Team Nutrition.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
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
MyPlate
Summary: Various Coloring Sheets, Menu Planner, videos, posters, and place mats can be accessed for free for use in nutrition lessons.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
MyPlate Nate and Kate Stickers
Summary: Download or order for free to use as part of nutrition lessons or as rewards for children who make healthy food choices.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
Nibbles for Health Newsletter – Together…Let’s Try New Foods!
Summary: Newsletter featuring tips for trying new foods with children, and includes a tasting reward chart.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
The Two Bite Club (English and Spanish)
Summary: This educational storybook, available in English and in Spanish, was developed to introduce MyPlate to young children. Adults can read the book to children and encourage them to try foods from each food group by eating just two bites, just like the characters in the story. You can download a copy from this site or follow the "Resource Order Form" link to get a free hard copy.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service
"When children eat less than half of a meal or snack, teachers always ask them if they are full before removing their plates."
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
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
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 appropriate 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 Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section of "Nurture Healthy Eaters," scroll down the menu to find responsive feeding resources for both infants and toddlers. Resources are geared towards child care providers and parents.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Intuitive Eating for Kids
Summary: An informative flyer for providers and parents explaining what intuitive eating is and how it can help children them stay in touch with their hunger and fullness cues, try new foods, and have a healthy relationship with food.
Source: Utah Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
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
"When children request seconds, teachers always ask them if they are still hungry before serving more food."
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
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
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 appropriate 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 Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section of "Nurture Healthy Eaters," scroll down the menu to find responsive feeding resources for both infants and toddlers. Resources are geared towards child care providers and parents.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Intuitive Eating for Kids
Summary: An informative flyer for providers and parents explaining what intuitive eating is and how it can help children them stay in touch with their hunger and fullness cues, try new foods, and have a healthy relationship with food.
Source: Utah Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
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
"Teachers rarely or never require that children sit at the table until they clean their plates."
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
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
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 appropriate 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 Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section of "Nurture Healthy Eaters," scroll down the menu to find responsive feeding resources for both infants and toddlers. Resources are geared towards child care providers and parents.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Intuitive Eating for Kids
Summary: An informative flyer for providers and parents explaining what intuitive eating is and how it can help children them stay in touch with their hunger and fullness cues, try new foods, and have a healthy relationship with food.
Source: Utah Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
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
"Teachers use an authoritative feeding style during every meal and snack time."
(NOTE: Resources below may address "Authoritative feeding" as "responsive feeding.")
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
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
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 appropriate 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)
Intuitive Eating for Kids
Summary: An informative flyer for providers and parents explaining what intuitive eating is and how it can help children them stay in touch with their hunger and fullness cues, try new foods, and have a healthy relationship with food.
Source: Utah Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
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
The Four Feeding Styles
Summary: Based on Ellyn Satter Institute Division of Responsibility in Feeding, this table breaks down what it means for adults to use authoritative feeding style.
Source: Bright Healthy Smiles
The Satter Division of Responsibility in Feeding
Summary: Endorsed by the Academy of Pediatrics as a proven approach for feeding children, this approach clearly outlines the adults' versus children's roles in feeding. Understanding these roles can make eating times more enjoyable because they promote positive relationships.
Source: Ellyn Satter Institute
"Teachers never use children’s preferred foods to encourage them to eat new or less-preferred foods."
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
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 appropriate 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 Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section of "Nurture Healthy Eaters," scroll down the menu to find responsive feeding resources for both infants and toddlers. Resources are geared towards child care providers and parents.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
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
"Teachers rarely or never use food to calm upset children or encourage appropriate behavior."
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
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 appropriate 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 Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section of "Nurture Healthy Eaters," scroll down the menu to find responsive feeding resources for both infants and toddlers. Resources are geared towards child care providers and parents.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
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
"Teachers always praise and give hands-on help during meal and snack times to guide toddlers as they learn to feed themselves."
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
Create a Positive Meal Environment
Summary: This document was created as a supplement to the Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children: Provider Handbook for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. It contains tips on how to create an environment that encourages positive eating habits.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture
Family Style Dining Guide: A Mealtime Approach for Early Care and Education Programs
Summary: For child care providers in all types of programs, this guide walks through how to implement best practices of serving meals family style with toddlers and preschoolers.
Source: Ohio Child Care Resource & Referral Association
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
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 appropriate 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 Kids, Healthy Future
Summary: Under the section of "Nurture Healthy Eaters," scroll down the menu to find responsive feeding resources for both infants and toddlers. Resources are geared towards child care providers and parents.
Source: The Nemours Foundation
Intuitive Eating for Kids
Summary: An informative flyer for providers and parents explaining what intuitive eating is and how it can help children them stay in touch with their hunger and fullness cues, try new foods, and have a healthy relationship with food.
Source: Utah Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
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: Reproducible newsletters that can be given to parents to address many of the challenges they face every day. These can also reinforce the lessons being taught to children in child care. Topics include portion sizes, reducing sugar, reducing sodium, picky eating, increasing nutritious food groups, and more. Newsletters can be downloaded, or hard copies may be ordered.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service
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
The Four Feeding Styles
Summary: Based on Ellyn Satter Institute Division of Responsibility in Feeding, this table breaks down what it means for adults to use authoritative feeding style.
Source: Bright Healthy Smiles
"Beverages are always offered in an open, child-sized cup to toddlers who are developmentally ready."
Family Style Meal Service with Children
Summary: Toolkit on how to hold family style meal service in child care, meeting federal CACFP guidelines.
Source: United States Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Services
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)
Introduction to the Cup - Topic of the Month
Summary: How and why to choose the best cup for a toddler.
Source: Minnesota Department of Health, Minnesota Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)
"Teachers remind children to drink water at least 1 time during each indoor and outdoor play period."
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
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
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