These child care nutrition resources were created to support child care providers in planning and preparing healthy food for children in their care. They reflect current best practices for creating supportive nutrition environments in the child care setting and will help providers meet the food and drink requirements set out in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (section 42 of Ont. Reg. 137/15).
Resources found here may be printed and used for non-commercial purposes as long as they are not altered in any way. If you wish to adapt a resource found in this section, please complete this form Permission to Reproduce Form. ODPH does not have print copies available. Please contact your local health unit, as some may have print copies available to child care providers in their regions.
Although the new Canada’s Food Guide was released in January 2019, the Ministry of Education of Ontario is supportive, for the time being, of child care settings to continue to refer to the ODPH child care resources for menu planning and supportive nutrition environments.
For more information, please contact us by e-mail at: info@odph.ca. Please note that some of the resources below are being revised. Thank you for your patience as we work on updating them.
Menu Planning & Supportive Nutrition Environments in Child Care Settings - Practical Guide
The Practical Guide includes information for child care providers on menu planning, food and beverages that should be served, appropriate portion sizes for different age groups, sample menus and templates as well as strategies to create a supportive nutrition environment.
Menu and Nutrition Environment Self-Assessment Tool for Child Care Settings
This Menu and Nutrition Environment Self-Assessment Tool will help child care cooks, chefs and providers assess their menus to meet the food and drink requirements in the Child Care and Early Years Act, 2014 (section 42 of Ontario Regulation 137/15).
Paint Your Plate with Vegetables and Fruit - A Toolkit for Ontario Child Care Providers
For child care operators, supervisors, cooks and staff who are working in the child care setting, these online courses will help you understand and apply the nutrition recommendations outlined in the Menu Planning & Supportive Nutrition Environments in Child Care Settings - Practical Guide.
Get examples of guidelines or policies that child care settings can adopt to encourage a supportive nutrition environment for children in their care.
Common Food Allergen Substitutions for Child Care Settings
Discover how you can substitute common food allergen in your recipes to accommodate children with allergies in your setting.
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