May

16

CACFP

May 16, 2004 |

:cldrain: Yesterday I had to go to a training seminar in the afternoon (fun way to spend a Saturday) for the Federal Food Program I participate in for Child Care. It’s a program that will pay you a certain amount of money per meal provided you serve foods that fall within their nutritional guidelines. You have to fill out scanable forms - think of the SAT’s and bubbling in all those little dots. It’s pretty easy and covers about 50% of what I spend on food every month which makes it worth it.

We are required to take 2 hours of training per year, as are our coordinators required to provide it. This training, however, was a colossal waste of time. We spent the first hour going over reporting procedures, something that we all know and could read over in the handout anyway, then watched a 20 minute video about fat, played a Q&A game and then left. What really bothered me is that I think they missed out on a huge opportunity to discuss childhood obesity and inactivity.

They had an audience of 20 Child Care providers in the afternoon and they had the same amount in the morning class. 40 people that take care of children, 10 or 11 hours a day, 5 days a week and are responsible for feeing these children breakfast, lunch and snacks. All of their meals except for dinner. And they decide what these children do (or don’t do) for most of the day. We have a huge impact on their eating habits and exercise habits and for the Federally Funded Food & Nutrition program not to even discuss this floored me.

Since last August I have become somewhat of a health nut in pursuit of a healthier, slimmer body. I have translated a lot of these healthy eating habits over into the children’s diet as well. They eat more fruits & vegetables, only whole grain bread - we don’t do white anymore - and I make a lot of foods from scratch now to control what goes into them. And you know what? They love it and they eat it. If you don’t tell them “I’m giving you something healthy to eat now” and just give it to them, they will eat it. It does cost more money to buy healthier foods but when the Federal Government is footing half the bill why wouldn’t you buy better food?

Childhood obesity has reached epidemic proportions just as adult obesity. This correlation is to be expected because who teaches children these habits? The adults in their lives. If we don’t get children to move more and eat less, we will shorten their life expectancy. We have a responsibility to teach them healthy eating and exercise habits just as much as we have a responsibility to teach them morals and values, creative thinking and basic skills.

For the Federal Food Program, which is supposedly founded on good nutrition, not to take advantage of that opportunity yesterday was shocking. And it hurts the children.

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Comments

4 Comments so far

  1. Candi on May 16, 2004 9:52 am

    I wish I thought this way…I love all the bad stuff :( I think it’s great that you are doing this for your kids and your daycare kids. Good for you :)

  2. weebie on May 16, 2004 8:24 pm

    Amen and Amen!
    We’re doing a lot more from scratch here too. Whole wheat pancakes…the kids LOVE em. I still like bad stuff too though. (sheepish grin)

  3. VJ on May 17, 2004 1:32 am

    You go girl! I love the way you think. You inspire. me.

  4. Bev on May 17, 2004 9:33 am

    That’s the government for you! :P

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