Children in full-time daycare eat up to two-thirds of their daily meals at the center. The quality of that food matters — both for immediate health and for developing healthy eating patterns.
The CACFP Standard
The Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is a federal program that reimburses licensed childcare centers for providing nutritious meals. Centers participating in CACFP must follow specific meal patterns:
- Fruits and vegetables at every meal
- Whole grains at least half the time
- No fried foods, no juice before age 1
- Water available at all times
- Age-appropriate portions
Questions to Ask About Nutrition
- Do you participate in CACFP?
- Can I see a sample weekly menu?
- How do you handle food allergies?
- Are meals prepared on-site or catered?
- What is your policy on birthday treats and holiday food?
Infant Feeding
For infants, quality centers:
- Support breast milk (proper storage, never microwave)
- Label and refrigerate all bottles
- Follow responsive feeding (feeding on infant's cues, not schedule)
- Introduce solids per pediatrician guidance
Does CACFP participation mean better food quality?
Not automatically — but it means baseline nutrition standards are met and inspected. Centers that go beyond CACFP minimums (organic, fresh-cooked, locally sourced) typically highlight this in their materials.
Find licensed daycare centers near you. When touring, ask about meal programs specifically.
