We have pulled together an assortment of useful links and resources to help you promote healthy eating and activities in your centers.  If you have a favorite resource or link that you would like to share with your peers, please email me at john.latour@cpcc.edu and I will add it to the list.

• The 5210 League is a group of individuals dedicated to leading a healthy and active life. Led by the knowledgeable Dr. Fit and the ever-moving, always-in-motion Action Ace, the league strives to teach families how to be healthy together. Check out this site for fun and easy ways you can incorporate healthy habits into your daily routine. Take the pledge and join the 5210 League today!

• First 2000 Days Video – There are only 2,000 days between the time a baby is born and when he or she will begin kindergarten. During that time brain architecture is forming, creating the foundation for all future learning. North Carolinian’s like you are coming together to build a stronger foundation for all of our children.  Watch the Video Here

• One Step At a Time is a collection of curriculum that helps child care providers working in local programs make sure young children are physically active.

• The Healthy Meals Resource Center -The Healthy Meals Resource System is an online information center for USDA Child Nutrition Programs (CNP) and has been delivering resources to CNP staff since 1995. The site contains recipes, menu planning advice, best practices and more.

• Eat Smart: NC’s Recommended Standards For All Foods Available In School grew out of a recommendation from the NC Healthy Weight Initiative’s 100-member task force. “Set state standards for all foods and beverages available in school” was one of four policy and environmental recommendations presented in the task force report,Moving Our Children Toward A Healthy Weight: Finding The Will And The Way.

• Healthy Schools/Let’s Move–  Principles, teachers, school nutrition workers and parents can help make schools healthier places to learn by providing quality food and teaching children about the importance of nutrition and embracing a healthy active lifestyle. Looking for ways you can get involved in the healthy changes happening in the cafeteria?

• Encouraging young children to eat different vegetables – This a whitepaper from Europe stresses the need for creative food presentation when getting children to eat healthy.  Its fairly clinical but a good read.

• Child Care Resource and Referral is an agency that provides a wide variety of CCR&R services. In the broadest sense, the field of community-based CCR&R defines its mission as “doing whatever it takes to make child care work for families and communities” from within the community served.  Click here for their website

• Feeding Young Children in Group Settings from the University of Idaho is an educational program designed for child care professionals, educators, food service workers, and anyone who trains staff or parents on issues related to feeding. Check out the videos under the For Trainers tab.

• The Produce for Better Health Foundation has produced a great E-Book titled, Your Plan to Eating More Fruits and Veggies.  It is a free book full of recipes, meal plans and strategies for maintaining healthy weight for Children.  This could be a good resource to share with parents

• MyEatSmartMoveMore.com supports the Eat Smart, Move More NC movement which promotes healthy eating and active living wherever people live, learn, earn, play.