Tips for Using the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children

USDA’s Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children helps children, ages 2 to 6, understand what they need to know about healthy eating, good eating habits, and enjoying a variety of foods.  

The accompanying Tips for Using the Food Guide Pyramid for Young Children (PDF) is a 16-page booklet that helps us teach our children to enjoy healthful eating, along with physical activity, from the very beginning.  It reminds us that there are no bad foods, only bad diets, and bad diets contribute to poor health outcomes, including childhood obesity.

How can CACFP participants use this new pyramid?  The pyramid will help make you aware of the frequency that certain food items should be served for an overall healthful diet for children.  While the CACFP meal pattern tells you how to use these food items to prepare a reimbursable meal or snack, the pyramid helps you understand what foods are important over a longer period of time.  

Remember, CACFP meal pattern requirements for a reimbursable meal or snack remain the same.  The introduction of the children’s pyramid does not change how a program provider plans or credits foods that contribute to the CACFP meal pattern.

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