Menu planning resources

• MSDH Approved Child Care Snack Ideas
• USDA MyPlate
  Cookbooks and recipe tools from the USDA What's Cooking website.
• Team Nutrition
  Creative ideas for meal planning and food preparation from the USDA, including key recommendations and best practices.
• USDA Nutrition Resources for Child Care Centers
  Kid-approved recipes made from healthy ingredients from the USDA — available in home and school versions size from 6 to 100 servings.
• MSDH Approved 4-Week Child Care Menus
• Child Nutrition Institute
  Institute of Child Nutrition
• Weights, Measures and Portions Poster
  A one-page poster on food measurements and serving sizes for scoop, dishes, and spoons from the Institute of Child Nutrition, for the kitchen area of a facility
• Menu Planning Worksheet To be used by the child care provider to plan menus for meals and snacks.

Nutrition resources

• National Resource Center for Health and Safety
  The NRC's primary mission is to promote health and safety in out-of-home child care settings throughout the nation
• Institute of Child Nutrition
  The Institute of Child Nutrition provides information and services that promote the continuous improvement of child nutrition programs
• Party Suggestions for Child Care Centers and Parents
• Healthy Lunch Box for Children

Farm to School

• Farm to School and Farm to Preschool
  Overview and resources for connecting children and students with farm-fresh food

Food Allergies

• Food Allergy Questions and Answers
• Managing Food Allergies

Reports

• Achieving a State of Healthy Weight
  This report from the National Resource Center assesses child care regulations in all fifty states against the latest evidence-based best practices.

MSDH menu planning documents

Child care facility operators can use the Checklist below to review menus before submitting them in order to speed the approval process.