Legislation Supports Healthy Eating, Physical Activity and Limited Screen Time in Child Care

Support The Healthy Living Starts Early Act of 2010

The Healthy Living Starts Early Act of 2010, introduced by Senator Amy Klobuchar (D-MN), identifies the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) as a nutrition program that contributes to the healthy growth and development of young children. This legislation will improve the nutritional value of the foods served through CACFP and better promote the health and wellness of young children by:

– Revising the nutrition standards for meals, snacks and beverages served through CACFP to make them consistent with the most recent U.S. Dietary Guidelines;

– Providing education and encouragement to participating child care centers and homes to provide children with healthy meals and snacks, daily opportunities for physical activity, and to limit screen time;

–Increasing the USDA training, technical assistance and educational materials available to child care providers, helping them to serve healthier food;

– Authorizing ongoing research on the nutrition, health and wellness practices, as well as the barriers and facilitators to CACFP participation, in child care settings;

– Requiring interagency coordination focused on strengthening the role of child care licensing in supporting good nutrition, health and wellness and maximizing the value of CACFP; and

– Reducing administrative burdens for CACFP sponsors and providers.

Strengthening the Child and Adult Care Food Program will support good nutrition during early childhood, which will help children to form healthy eating habits, maintain a healthy weight, and achieve optimal growth and development. To be fully effective in reaching this goal, it is also important to increase access to the program by supporting key eligibility and reimbursement provisions in the final committee bill.

Click here for more information on the bill (pdf) and here for the value of the CACFP program (pdf)

Please show your support and sign on to the letter HERE!

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categories Uncategorized | ghyman | datetime April 14, 2010 4:31 pm

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