Childcare providers play an important role in meeting the nutritional needs of children in attendance.  Morning and afternoon snacks plus a healthy lunch prepared fresh onsite daily by in-house cooks. Menus developed by cooks, in consultation with Canada’s Food Guide to Healthy Eating and the requirements of the Child Care and Early Years Act.

Photo submitted by FN Child Care Cook’s Network – Traditional Cooking Class hosted by WAASEGIIZHIG NANAANDAWE’IYEWIGAMIG – bannock, wild rice casserole, baked walleye

We invite you to share your favourite menu plans and/or recipes.

Resources to support you in your role:

External Links and Downloads

Modifying Recipes to Meet the Practical Guide – Practical tips to reduce sodium and sugar and increase whole grain content in recipes.

Increasing the Use of Plant-based Proteins – Practical tips on how to choose, prepare and easy ways to add more plant-based proteins to menus.

Common Food Allergen Substitutions for Child Care Settings – Discover substitutions for common food allergens to accommodate children with allergies.

Sample Menus – Sample four week menu cycle that incorporates different foods to align with the 2019 Canada’s Food Guide including a variety of colours, shapes, and textures.

Reducing Food Costs and Environmental Impacts – A practical tool to support reducing food costs and environmental impacts

Paint Your Plate offers practical ways to make it easier for children to enjoy vegetables and fruit with sample policies, seasonal menus, fun activities and factsheets to share with families.

Canada’s Food Guide

Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants from Birth to Six Months

Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants from Six Months to Twenty-four Months

Nutrition Connections

Packaged Foods Database

Eating Well in the Early Years

Picky Eaters

Menu Planning in Child Care Centres

UnlockFood.ca

Cooking Up Some Fun

Helping Kids Eat Less Sodium

Eating Ontario Fish

Traditional Foods Recipes

Traditional Mohawk Hash Recipe (submitted by Akwesasne Child Care Program)

  • cooked ground hamburger;
  • cooked ground sausage;
  • then added to boiled potatoes draining the potatoes’ water 3/4 out;
  • ratio of meat to potatoes is equal;
  • mash all together;
  • then add poultry seasoning and pepper to your liking;

Children like ketchup on hash while adults prefer gravy on their traditional hash. Sweet corn is a side dish served with hash.  Enjoy!!