Attachment P: Stimulus: Nibbles for Health Newsletters (English)

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Newsletters at a Glance
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young
Children cover a variety of important topics for families of
preschoolers. Listed below are the categories and topics you
will find in this series.
Foods at Child Care
• Child Care: What Will My
Child Eat?
Feeding Practices
• Feeding Your Preschooler
• Trying New Foods Together
• Tips for a “Choosy” Eater
• Learning about Foods
and Each Other
Family Meals and Snacks
• Family Meals – Enjoyable,
Healthy, and Relaxed
• Portions for Preschoolers
• Healthy Meals with MyPlate
• Power of a Healthy Breakfast
• Healthy Snacks with Smiles
• Colorful Fruits
• Water: Every Sip Counts
Food Groups
• Encouraging Vegetables
• Whole Grains Make a Difference
• Milk Matters
• Vary Your Protein Foods
Search for newsletters
alphabetically on the
following pages.

Making Healthier Choices
• Healthy Celebrations
• Is Your Child Drinking Too
Much Juice?
• Cutting Back on Added Sugars
• Choosing the Right Fats
• Cutting Back on Sodium
Nutrition Education
• Grow a Family Garden
• Let’s Cook Together
• MyPlate for Preschoolers
Food Safety
• Learning about Hand Washing
Active Play
• Active Play Everyday
• Move More in All Seasons

Child Care:

What Will My Child Eat?
At child care, we
plan meals carefully
to make sure they
contain the nutrition
your child needs to
learn, grow, and be
healthy.

Here is a sample meal served
at child care:

1/4 cup

3/4 cup
unflavored
milk

peach
Did you know that our child care
slices
participates in the Child and Adult
Care Food Program (CACFP)? The
Taco: 1.5 ounces beans, topped with
meals served in CACFP must meet
1/4 cup lettuce and 1/8 cup chopped
high nutrition standards. That is why
tomatoes, and corn taco shell.
our meals and snacks include a variety
of vegetables and fruits, whole grains,
Here is a sample snack served
low-fat milk, and lean protein foods.
at child care:
We also provide foods that are lower
in added sugars. Water is offered
throughout the day.

1/2 cup apple slices
4 oz. cheddar cheese chunks
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children

Learning About Foods
at Child Care
Help your child draw shapes around the foods using crayons, colored
pencils, or markers.
Draw a purple circle
around the fish.

Draw a green star
around the broccoli.

Draw an orange square
around the bread.

Draw a red triangle
around the blueberries.

Draw a blue heart
around the milk.

blueberries
milk

bread

fish
broccoli

Month 2018
FNS XXX
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Cutting Back on
Added Sugars
While most children
have a sweet tooth,
it’s important to
watch their overall
added sugar intake.
Your child’s eating pattern is the
types of foods he or she eats and
drinks over time. Many children and
adults have eating patterns that are
too high in added sugars. Eating
patterns that are lower in added

sugars have a lower risk of heart
disease, diabetes, obesity, some
cancers, and tooth decay (cavities).
What are major sources
of added sugars?
Children get the most added sugars
from drinks, sweet snacks, and
desserts. Below are examples of foods
and drinks and the amount of added
sugars in each.

=
sandwich
cookies

=

12 grams added sugar

sugary
cereal

=
granola bar

15 grams added sugar

=

14 grams added sugar

fruit punch

1 sugar cube = 2 grams of sugar

Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children

19 grams added sugar

Reward Your Child
Without Sweets
There are many ways to
reward your child without
sweets!
At child care, we try not to offer
sweet treats as rewards for good
behavior. Here are five tips you can
use for non-food rewards at home:
1. Visit a local park, zoo, or museum.
2. Visit a library and let your child
pick out the books.
3. Have your child pick their favorite
song and have a dance party.
4. Reward with fun stickers that
they will enjoy.
5. Have a family game night. Let your
child pick the game.
Make a plan to cut back
on added sugars
At child care, we are cutting back on
the added sugars kids get. We choose
yogurts and cereals that are lower in
sugars. We do not offer grain-based
desserts like cookies, brownies, and
cake with meals and snacks. For kids
2 to 5 years, we serve plain low-fat
(1%) or fat-free (skim) milk. Flavored
milks, like chocolate, have added
sugars.

Here are ideas to help your
family cut back on added
sugars. Check the ones that
you plan to try!
r Offer plain or sparkling water
instead of sugar-sweetened drinks
like soda or fruit-flavored drinks
between meals.
r Serve fruit for dessert instead of
sweets more often. Choose fresh
fruits or fruits canned in 100% juice
or water.
r Use non-food rewards for
good behavior.
r Compare breakfast cereal labels
and choose those with less sugar.

Month 2018
FNS XXX
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Feeding Your
Preschooler
Feed their independent
spirit at meal times.
Each meal with your preschooler is a
chance to help them grow and learn
to make some decisions on their own.
Encourage them to make their own
food choices from the healthy foods
you offer. Start early and you’ll help
them build healthy eating habits
for life.

Helpful Tips:
Set a regular schedule for meal
times. Young children need routines
to practice new skills, like trying
healthy foods.
Offer choices from the five food
groups: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains,
Dairy, and Protein Foods. Provide
foods that are lower in added sugars,
sodium (salt), and saturated fats.
Help your child feel more
independent. Let him or her pick
from healthy food choices you
offer. For example, they can choose
between an apple or orange at
snack time.

Eat with your child. They are more
likely to try new foods if they see you
eating and enjoying them.
Involve your child. As your child
grows, let them help prepare, serve,
and clean up after the meal. For
example, your child can help by
measuring, adding ingredients,
stirring, washing veggies, etc.
Children learn by doing, and being
involved helps them be more
confident and develop motor skills.

Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children

Safe Eating
Know Choking
Hazards
It is important to be careful with
foods that may cause choking for
preschoolers. Below are some potential
choking hazards for your preschooler.

l

Slippery foods such as whole
grapes; large pieces of meats,
poultry, and hot dogs; and candy.

l

Small, hard foods such as popcorn,
nuts, raisins, raw vegetables, chips,
and large pretzels.

l

Sticky foods such as marshmallows
and chunks of peanut butter.

Tips for Safe Eating
It can be scary when your child
chokes on food. Follow these tips when
feeding your preschooler.
l

Remind your child to eat slowly,
one bite at a time.

l

Cut grapes, cherries, berries,
or melon balls in half lengthwise.
Then, cut into smaller pieces.

l

Cook foods, such as carrots, until
slightly soft. Then, cut into sticks.

l

Avoid hard, small, whole foods
that may get caught in your child’s
throat.

l

Always supervise your child during
eating time.

Remember
When preparing food for
your child, make sure it’s the
appropriate size, shape, and
texture to reduce the risk
of choking.

Month 2018
FNS XXX
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Milk Matters
At child care, milk
is an important part
of meals.
For 2-5 year olds, we serve unflavored
low-fat (1%) or fat-free (skim) milk.
Milk helps keep your child’s body
growing strong.

Fat-free (skim) and low-fat (1%) milk
have less saturated fats than whole
milk. Eating too many saturated fats
can raise blood cholesterol and
increase the risk of heart disease.

Fat-free and low-fat (1%) milk
have nutrients your child needs.
Did you know that milk is loaded with
vitamins, minerals and protein, with
nine key nutrients?

Tip
Which Milk is Right
for Your Child?
For children 2 years and older,
offer unflavored fat-free (skim)
or low-fat (1%) milk.

Make the Switch to Fat-Free (Skim) or Low-Fat (1%) Milk
Whole Milk

Low-fat (1%) Milk

Fat-free (Skim) Milk

1 cup = 149 Calories
5 g Saturated Fat

1 cup = 102 Calories
2 g Saturated Fat

1 cup = 83 Calories
0 g Saturated Fat

All milk has the same amount of calcium, protein, vitamin D,
and other nutrients!

Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children

Tips for Switching
to Low-fat Milk
l

Take it slow. If your child is
drinking whole milk, first switch to
reduced-fat (2%) milk for a few
weeks. When your child gets used
to the flavor, then switch to low-fat
(1%) milk. Later, you can try fat-free
(skim) milk.

l

Prepare foods with low-fat
milk. Use low-fat (1%) or fat-free
(skim) milk on cereal or in
smoothies. Your child probably
will not notice.

l

Make it special. Offer low-fat (1%)
or fat-free (skim) milk in your child’s
favorite cup or with a fun straw.

l

Be a healthy role model. Help
your child develop healthy habits.
Every time you drink fat-free (skim)
or low-fat (1%) milk, you’re giving
your child a lesson in how to eat
for better health.

l

What if my child doesn’t
tolerate milk? If your child is
lactose intolerant or gets stomach
pains, gas, or bloating after drinking
milk, try lactose-free milk or
calcium-fortified soymilk (soy
beverage).

Month 2018
FNS XXX
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

Plain Milk Wins!
Plain milk, without added flavors,
syrups, or powders, is a healthy
choice for your preschooler.
Unflavored white milk provides
the good nutrition your child
needs without the added sugars
found in flavored milks.

Winn
er

MyPlate for
Preschoolers
Why do we serve a
variety of foods and
drinks at child care?
Preschoolers need foods from all five
food groups to grow and be healthy.
The food groups are: Fruits,
Vegetables, Dairy, Grains, and
Protein Foods.

MyPlate can also help you select
foods to serve at home for your
family. The MyPlate icon shows all
of the food groups as part of a meal.
Each food group is separated in the
picture, but we also eat food groups
mixed together, like in a stir fry or a
sandwich.
Keep in mind what your child
eats over time. Healthy meals
and snacks give your child several
chances every day to eat a variety of
foods from the five food groups. Your
child does not need to eat something
from each food group at every meal
and snack.
Tip
If your child refuses a meal or
eats only a little, don’t worry.
Your child will make up for it
with other meals and snacks to
get what he or she needs for
good health over time.

Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young Children

MyPlate Coloring Activity
Help your child enjoy foods from
the five MyPlate food groups
l Fruits – Focus on cut-up whole
fruits like oranges, pears, and
peaches and serve 100% fruit juice
less often. Slice fruits such as
grapes to prevent choking. Offer
applesauce without added sugar.
l

Vegetables – Help your preschooler
discover a variety of veggies.
Introduce your child to dark-green,
red, and orange vegetables, beans
and peas, and other vegetables.

Talk to your
child about the
five MyPlate
food groups.
Then, have your
child color the
icon or draw
their favorite
food on the plate
as a fun activity.

Month 2018
FNS XXX
USDA is an equal opportunity provider, employer, and lender.

l

Grains – Make at least half your
family’s grains whole grains. Choose
whole-grain foods, such as wholewheat bread, oatmeal, whole-wheat
tortillas, and brown rice more often.

l

Protein Foods – Vary protein
foods. Try seafood, beans, and peas
more often. Some tasty ways include
a bean burrito, hummus, or bean
soup; fish tacos, shrimp stir-fry, or
salmon patties with your child.

l

Dairy – Offer fat-free or low-fat (1%)
dairy foods such as milk, yogurt,
and cheese at meals or snacks.