Healthy Food For Your Child

Office for Children
Department of Family Services
12011 Government Center Parkway
Suite 920
Fairfax, VA 22035-1102
Media contacts: 703-324-7162 or 703-324-8042
TTY: 711
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc

December 18, 2007

Make Sure Your Child Care Provider
Gives Your Child Healthy Food in 2008

Many parents will make New Year’s resolutions to eat healthier in 2008. They may also resolve to make healthier meals for their children. The Fairfax County Department of Family Services’ Office for Children encourages parents to add one more item to their New Year’s resolution list: make sure their child care providers also give their children healthy, nutritious food next year.

The US Department of Agriculture sponsors the Child and Adult Care Food Program, a national initiative that helps millions of eligible children receive healthy food from child care providers. This program is administered through local jurisdictions; the Office for Children oversees the program in Fairfax County.

“Child care providers can be reimbursed up to $4,600 per year from the USDA for the amount spent on healthy food for children in their care,” explains Moe Gaines, director of the Office for Children’s Community Education and Provider Services division. “The reimbursement depends on how many children they care for who meet the eligibility requirements,” Gaines adds.

The child care providers who participate in the USDA program are taught healthy portion sizes for various ages, and to give children fruits, vegetables and protein-rich foods for meals and snacks. The USDA program also teaches child care providers to avoid feeding children foods high in sugar, salt and fat, and foods that are choking hazards for young children. These concepts are in turn taught to the children by the child care providers.

Parents can contribute to their children’s health by encouraging their child care providers to participate in the USDA food program. Interested child care providers can call the Office for Children at 703-324-8100, or find more information online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ofc.

 

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