In 2012, Cleveland Child Care decided to take the quality and nutritional value of the foods and beverages served to our children beyond required standards. 

Cleveland Child Care is an Ohio Healthy designated program and was one of the very first designated child care programs in the state of Ohio!

The foods supplied to children will be wholesome, of good quality, properly prepared, sufficient in amount, varied in accordance with the USDA dietary Guidelines for Americans, age-appropriate in portion size and variety, and served at regular hours at appropriate intervals.

Cleveland Child Care meals are served family style with teachers encouraging, but never forcing children to decide how much or whether they eat a certain food.  Teachers will sit with and model healthy eating habits by eating the same foods as the children.  Mealtimes are an opportunity to teach nutrition and/or food concepts.  Teachers engage in social interactions and conversations with children about the concepts of color, quantity, and temperature of food.  

Cleveland Child Care is committed the the following list of guidelines for serving healthy meals:

• will serve only antibiotic, hormone and preservative free meats.
•  will serve a different non-fried vegetable everyday in a five day period that are predominately organic and pesticide free.
• will serve a different fruit everyday in a five day period that is predominantly organic and pesticide free.
• will serve a whole grain food everyday.
• will serve 100% pure organic fruit juice no more than once a day and will limit the portion to 4-6oz.
• will not serve beverages with added sugars or sweeteners.
• will not serve fried foods.
• will serve 1% or skim milk for children two years and older.
• will serve snacks that are free of trans fat and corn syrups.
• will serve water first for thirst. (i.e. clean drinking water available in the classrooms for drinking)
• if food is brought from home, it must meet the nutritional standards listed above. 

*This institution is an equal opportunity provider.