Off to a Good Start

Written for adults and children, this basic nutrition resource book informs parents and day care providers about the importance of good nutrition, aids them in teaching basic nutritional concepts to children, and provides practical ways to use nutrition information in daily life. Some of the key elements include eating guidelines for adults and children, practical advice on consumer decisions, and helpful hints for meal planning and food preparation. Activity sections that follow most of the informational sections suggest activities that are appropriate for preschool-age children, are easy to do in the day care home, and cover most of the major concepts presented in the book. Recipes, scattered throughout the book, demonstrate how the basic nutritional ideas can be applied in the kitchen. Along with each recipe is a chart to aid United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Child Care Food Program participants in determining how each food fits into their daily eating pattern. The chart relates the size of serving needed to meet one or more of the USDA food requirements for children 3 to 6 years of age. Recommended serving sizes are included. (RH)