Good nutrition is important for people of all ages but it is especially important for children.Children need good nutrition for proper growth and development. Improper nutrition could result in undesirable side effects in a child's growth and development.

Since many children receive the majority of their meals each day while attending school it is essential they are provided with a healthy balanced diet. In some cases children eat not only breakfast snacks and lunch at school they also receive their evening meal as part of their school program. In these cases it is imperative that the food offered by the school meet the USDA Food Program and Meal Planning guidelines.

Providing healthy meals in the child care setting encourages lifelong proper eating habits in children. According to the United States Department of Agriculture USDA only 12 of Americans have healthy wellbalanced diets. Reinforcing proper eating habits in the child care setting will provide a solid foundation for a childs future eating habits.

ChildCare Education Institute offers a number of professional development courses such as CCEI 530A The USDA Food Program and Meal Planning to assist child care facilities in planning and implementing food programs that encourage healthy eating habits in young children. Providing healthy meals and snacks in the child care setting is a great way to encourage children to form good eating habits. Cooking is an enjoyable activity for most children and a wonderful window of opportunity for both teaching and learning.

Learn more about promoting healthy bodies and growing minds in the early childhood classroom. Visit ChildCare Education Institute to discover over 100 online child care training courses that meet the continuing education requirements of the child care industry. Register for a sample course and try online learning today!

About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;ChildCare Education Institute CCEI a distance training institution offers over 100 online">http://www.cceionline.com/index.cfm?gaw=68">online child care trainingcourses and online">http://www.cceionline.com/index.cfm?gaw=68">online CDAprograms. CCEI is approved by the International Association for Continuing Education Training IACET to award IACET Continuing Education Units CEUs.