Healthy Development

Early Childhood

Food and Nutrition Support for Regulated Child Care Settings

Approximately 70 per cent of Nova Scotia pre-school children have mothers in the workforce, and most of these children do much of their eating - and learning about eating - outside the home. Child care providers, both formal and informal, therefore play a critical role in the development of eating habits.

For children in licensed child care programs, the Day Care Act sets out nutrition-related Regulations that centres must follow. Currently the Department of Community Services requires that child care centres have their menu approved by a nutritionist when the centre is first licensed and subsequently on request.

The Departments of Community Services and Health Promotion & Protection have come together to lead the development of a policy to help regulated child care settings ensure that the food they offer is nutritious and meets regulatory requirements. For more information on the ongoing development of this policy, please visit the Department of Community Services website at www.gov.ns.ca/coms/families/provider/foodandnutrition/