Child Health and Wellness

Child Health & Wellness encompasses the whole child as a state of physical, mental, intellectual, social, and emotional well-being. Engage these available resources to improve the way you reinforce child health and wellness in your programs.

• About Child Health and Wellness

  Early care and education, after school, and summer programs play a key role in supporting children’s health and wellness. By serving healthy foods in a positive mealtime environment and providing opportunities for physical activity, you positively affect children’s physical, social-emotional and cognitive development. These efforts also lay the foundation for lifelong habits, impacting children’s future health and risk of disease. DECAL Nutrition Services supports child health and wellness by promoting the following programs:

  Child Nutrition Programs, including the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) and Happy Helpings, Georgia’s Summer Food Service Program (SFSP) help improve the nutrition quality of meals and snacks. A study published in 2025 showed that children in CACFP sites have better overall diet quality and consume less added sugar on days they are in care compared to non-child care days.

  Farm to Child programs (Farm to Early Care and Education, Farm to CACFP, Farm to Summer) engage children in gardening and food education activities. They connect children to local foods, supporting our farmers, producers, and local food systems. Farm to Child programs also help enhance family and community engagement.

  Physical activity programs that incorporate a combination of adult-led and child-led movement activities help children develop skills for a healthy, active life. DECAL Nutrition Services is the statewide coordinator for the evidence-based PALS (Physical Activity Learning Sessions) program through Nemours Children’s Health.

  There are many resources to help you support the health and wellness of the children in your care. In addition to the resources below, visit the Nutrition Services Training and Technical Assistance page for more learning opportunities. If you need additional assistance, contact Monica.Griffin@decal.ga.gov. If you are interested in joining Georgia’s PEACH (Partners in ECE Advancing Child Health) Collaborative, email gspanatghpc@gsu.edu.

• Child Health and Wellness Guidelines and Best Practices
  • Dietary Guidelines for Americans
  • Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans
  • Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Early Care and Education
  • Caring for Our Children, National Health and Safety Performance Standards
  • Healthy Eating Research Feeding and Beverage Recommendations
  • Nemours Best Practices for Physical Activity Guide
  • SHAPE America Active Start: A Statement of Physical Activity Guidelines for Children from Birth to Age 5
  • National Afterschool Association: Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Out-Of-School Time
• Meals and Menu Planning

  Child Nutrition Program Guides and Handbooks

  • Food Buying Guide for Child Nutrition Programs
  • Crediting Handbook for CACFP
  • CACFP Adult Day Care Handbook
  • Recipe Standardization Guide for the CACFP
  • Summer Food Service Program Nutrition Guide

  Meal Pattern and Crediting:

  • CACFP Meal Pattern Charts:
    • Infants, All Meals and Snacks
    • Child and Adult, Breakfast
    • Child and Adult, Lunch/Supper
    • Child and Adult, Snack
  • USDA CACFP Meal Pattern Training Slides
  • USDA CACFP Meal Pattern Training Worksheets
  • USDA Child Nutrition Crediting Tip Sheets
  • Feeding Infants in the CACFP
  • Institute of Child Nutrition CACFP Resources

  Menu and Recipe Resources:

  • Child Nutrition Recipe Box
  • Team Nutrition Recipes and Videos
  • Child Nutrition Program Sharing Site
  • National CACFP Sponsors Association:
    • Recipes
    • Menus
  • Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Recipes
  • ASPHN CACFP Vegetable and Fruit Snack Menu
  • Growing Minds Seasonal, Local Food Recipes
  • Wisconsin CACFP Snack Inspiration Menu and Recipes
  • Texas CACFP Multicultural Recipes

  Culinary Resources:

  • Culinary Institute of Child Nutrition
  • Culturally Inclusive Recipes Toolkit
  • Georgia Department of Education School Nutrition Culinary Resources

  Food Allergy and Menu Modification Resources:

  • DECAL Policy Memo, Statements Supporting Accommodations for Children with Disabilities in the Child Nutrition Programs
  • Institute of Child Nutrition Food Allergy Fact Sheets
  • Food Allergy Research and Education, Food Allergies in Early Childhood
  • Kids with Food Allergies, Managing Food Allergies at School
  • Voluntary Guidelines for Managing Food Allergies in Schools Toolkit
• Food Safety

  Food safety is a vital part of CACFP and SFSP meal preparation and service.  Organizations are required to ensure proper health and sanitation measures are in place so that safe and healthy meals are served to children.

  DECAL’s Food Safety Video Series

  

  Proper Cooling of Food

  

  Proper Hand Washing

  

  Proper Labeling of Food

  

  Thawing of Food

  

  Prepararing Ready to Eat Food

  

  Hot Holding of Food

  

  Cross-Contamination of Food

  

  Cold Holding of Food

  • DECAL Rules and Regulations for Food Service
  • CACFP Food Safety Toolkit
  • Safe Meals, Healthy Kids: Food Safety for Summer Meals
  • Institute of Child Nutrition Food Safety Resources
  • USDA Handwashing and Cleaning Resources
  • Food Safety Recalls and Outbreaks Information
• Mealtime Practices

  How we feed children matters as much as what we feed them. The following resources will help you create a positive, safe and responsive mealtime environment:

  • Chop, Look, Listen Mealtime Safety Initiative
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life ECE Nutrition and Mealtime Resources
  • Feeding Infants in the CACFP
  • Mealtime with Toddlers in the CACFP
  • Family Style Meal Service with Children in the CACFP
  • Offer Versus Serve in the CACFP
  • Head Start Child Feeding Practices Resources
• Farm to Child Nutrition Programs

  Farm to Early Care and Education (ECE) programs are unique to each site and include at least one of the three core elements: local food purchasing, gardening, and food and agriculture education. Participating in Farm to ECE helps children establish healthy eating habits, enhances the quality of the educational experience, promotes family and community engagement, and supports local farmers and food producers. The following resources will help you start or grow your Farm to ECE program:

  Farm to ECE Guides and Comprehensive Resources:

  • Getting Started: Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education
    • OLLI (Online Learning Library Initiative) Training Course
    • Guide
  • Eat, Learn, Grow Georgia (eatlearngrowga.org)
  • National Farm to School Network Resource Library
  • Natural Learning Initiative
  • A Guide to Using the Creative Curriculum to Support Farm to ECE
  • Growing Head Start Success with Farm to ECE
  • Farm to ECE Multicultural Books Discussion Guides

  Farm to Child Nutrition Program Fact Sheets:

  • USDA Farm to CACFP Fact Sheet and Resources
  • USDA Farm to Preschool Fact Sheet
  • USDA Farm to Summer Fact Sheet and Resources
  • DECAL Farm to Summer Fact Sheet

  Harvest of the Month:

  The Georgia Early Care and Education Harvest of the Month is a collaborative campaign between Quality Care for Children, Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning, and the Georgia Department of Human Services. The campaign aims to encourage healthy eating habits by promoting a different local, seasonal fruit or vegetable each month.

  • Harvest of the Month Calendar, English
  • Harvest of the Month Calendar, Spanish
  • Quality Care for Children Harvest of the Month Cookbooks and Storybook
  • Eat, Learn, Grow Georgia Harvest of the Month Curriculum
  • Georgia Department of Education Harvest of the Month Resources

  Local Food Purchasing:

  • DECAL Procurement Page, under Local Sourcing
  • USDA Integrating Local Foods into Child Nutrition Programs
  • USDA Procuring Local Foods Resources
  • Eat, Learn, Grow Georgia Local Food Resources
  • Farm to ECE Sourcing Strategies
  • USDA Local Food Directories
  • Georgia Farm Bureau Certified Farm Markets

  Gardening:

  • Eat, Learn, Grow Georgia Gardening Resources
  • UGA Extension Vegetable Planting Chart
  • UGA Extension Community and School Garden Expert Resource Series
  • Natural Learning Initiative Preschool Gardening Activity Guide, InfoSheets and Videos
  • KidsGardening
  • Early Introduction to Sensory Gardens: Infants and Toddlers
  • Composting in Child Care Center Gardens
  • Vermicomposting in Child Care Center Gardens
  • Seed Library Network
    • This is not a complete list. We encourage you to call or visit your local library and ask if they offer a seed library.
• Nutrition and Agriculture Education Resources

  Nutrition and agriculture education helps children learn to identify, eat, and enjoy foods that contribute to their health and wellbeing. Hands-on activities, like helping prepare a snack or participating in a taste-test help children become adventurous eaters:

  Early Care and Education:

  • Grow It, Try It, Like It! Curriculum for Child Care Centers and Family Child Care Learning Homes
  • “Look and Cook” Step-by-Step Recipe Cards
  • DECAL Taste Test Time Handout
  • Eat, Learn, Grow Georgia Farm to ECE Resource Library
  • Small Bites Adventure Club
  • BCDI Atlanta Healthy Eating Activity Guide
  • Georgia Organics Farm to School and ECE Month Lessons
  • Growing Minds Lesson Plans
  • Cooking Matters Lesson Plans
  • Potential Food Allergens in Preschool and School Activities

  Afterschool, Out-Of-School Time, and Summer:

  • USDA Team Nutrition Cooks! Afterschool and Out-of-School Time Activities
  • USDA Summer Food Summer Moves Resource Kit
  • FoodCorps Lesson Plans and Cookbook
  • Cooking Matters Lesson Plans
  • Food and Fun After School
  • Potential Food Allergens in Preschool and School Activities
• Physical Activity

  Physical activity impacts children’s physical, social-emotional, and cognitive development. ECE programs, afterschool programs, and summer learning programs provide an opportunity for children to develop skills and learn new activities to build their physical fitness and literacy.

  Early Care and Education:

  • DECAL’s Move of the Month Campaign Videos
  • 30 Day Physical Activity Calendar for Infants, Toddlers and Preschoolers
  • Pathways Tummy Time Resources
  • We Have the Moves! Physical Activity Resource
  • Physical Activity Toolkit for Preschool-Aged Children
  • Be Active Kids Activity Ideas
  • Creating Active Classrooms: Lesson Plans, Activity Cards and Training Slides
  • SPARK Physical Education Free Lesson Plans
  • Active for Life Lesson Plans
  • Go Outside! The Benefits of Outside Play
  • Gross Motor Play When Weather Doesn’t Permit Outdoor Play
  • Active Play in Cold Weather
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life ECE Physical Activity Resources

  Afterschool, Out-Of-School Time, and Summer:

  • Summer Food Summer Moves Resource Kit
  • The Afterschool Guide for Creating Outstanding Indoor Games
  • The Afterschool Guide for Creating Outstanding Outdoor Games
  • Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta Strong4Life Physical Activity Resources
  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation Physical Activity Cards
  • SPARK Physical Education Free Lesson Plans
  • Active for Life Lesson Plans
  • Georgia Statewide Afterschool Network Summer Activity Guide
  • Food and Fun After School

  Older Adults:

  • Move Your Way
  • Exercise and Physical Activity for Older Adults
  • Active Aging Video Series

  Adapting Active Play for People of All Abilities:

  • BlazeTOTS Resources to Promote Physical Activity for Toddlers and Preschoolers of All Abilities
  • Adapted Movement Tips and Video
  • The Ability Toolkit: A Resource for Parents of Children and Youth with a Disability (English, French and Portuguese)
  • Discover Inclusive Active Aging

  Safety:

  • Playground Best Practices
  • What Does Weather-Permitting Mean?
  • Playground Supervision
  • Playing Safely in Cold Weather
• Healthy Child Care and Out-of-School Time Environments and Policies

  The following resources can help you create sustainable, long-term improvements that support the health and wellbeing of the children, families and staff in your programs.

  Early Care and Education:

  • USDA’s Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! Resource Guide
  • Child Care Wellness Policy Workbook
  • Nemours Healthy Kids, Healthy Future: Training and Resources for Child Care
  • Go NAPSACC: gonapsacc.org
    • Go NAPSACC Tool Demonstration Video
    • Go NAPSACC Success Stories Video
    • Go NAPSACC Outreach Flyer
    • To sign-up for your free Go NAPSACC account, contact Monica Griffin at Monica.Griffin@decal.ga.gov.

  Afterschool, Out-Of-School Time, and Summer:

  • Alliance for a Healthier Generation: Healthy Out-of-School Time
  • The Out-of-School Nutrition and Physical Activity Initiative Guide
  • OSNAP Guide for Writing Afterschool Wellness Policies
• Family Engagement

  Family engagement benefits both your program and families. You can provide information and resources to support family wellness at home through workshops, family-teacher conversations, and connection to community services. You can also invite families to share their expertise with you and other families, for example, recipes from their cultural traditions or gardening knowledge.

  Early Care and Education:

  • USDA’s Breastfed Babies Welcome Here! Resource Guide
  • Kitchen Scavenger Hunt Activity
  • Nibbles for Health Newsletters
  • Feeding Infants in the CACFP Communication Tools for Parents
  • Serving Meals “Family Style” Family Handout
  • Activities for Families with Young Children: (English) and (Spanish)
  • Better Together Family Café Materials
  • Sesame Workshop Healthy Minds and Bodies Resources

  Afterschool, Out-of-School Time, and Summer:

  • Summer Food, Summer Moves Activity Guides for Families
  • Team Nutrition Cooks! Family Handouts
• Training and Professional Development

  In addition to the resources below, visit the Nutrition Services Training and Technical Assistance page for upcoming training opportunities, and to search the Georgia Professional Development System for live, online and on-demand state-approved training opportunities.

  • DECAL’s Getting Started: Georgia Farm to Early Care and Education OLLI (Online Learning Library Initiative) Course
  • USDA’s CACFP Halftime: Thirty on Thursdays Training Webinars
  • USDA’s Crediting Updates for Child Nutrition Programs: Be in the Know! Webinar Series
  • USDA CACFP Meal Pattern Training Slides
  • Institute for Child Nutrition Training for CACFP and Summer Food Service Programs
  • National CACFP Association Trainings
• Employee Wellness

  Supporting employee wellness can help keep staff members healthy, support retention, and make it easier for staff to role model healthy habits for the children in their care.

  • Taking Steps to Healthy Success: Staff Wellness Module
  • Strong4Life Educator and Staff Wellness
  • A Guide to Worksite Wellness and Safety in the Child Care Setting
  • CDC’s How Right Now Campaign