Eat Well Play Hard is free and promotes a culture of health and supports healthy lifestyle

Children at a table with fresh vegetables
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Funded by USDA’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings

The Cornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida Countyis inviting eligible child care centers to participate in the Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care Settings (Eat Well Play Hard) Champion initiative. This initiative uses a center-wide approach to create an environment that promotes a culture of health and supports healthy lifestyles.

The Champion initiative is provided at no cost. It is funded by the United States Department of Agriculture’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program: Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention Program (SNAP-Ed) and administered by the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP).

TheCornell Cooperative Extension of Oneida County, a New York State Department of Health CACFP grant recipient, will partner with your center and designate an Eat Well Play Hard Nutritionist to work with you for 16 weeks. The Nutritionist will:

  • Offer support, technical assistance and mentorship as you work on your center’s goals to improve your nutrition, mealtime and physical activity environments. Together, you will:
    • Establish a Champion Workgroup to create or enhance policies and best practices.
    • Modify snack menus to include more fresh fruit, vegetables and low-fat dairy.
    • Effectively communicate nutrition and physical activity messages to families.
    • Obtain a CACFP Breastfeeding Friendly designation.
  • Conduct trainings and workshops for children, families, and staff, including:
    • Six lessons in all preschool classrooms. Each lesson includes three activities, i.e. a nutrition, food discovery, and movement activity.
    • Six workshops for families.
    • Three center-wide staff trainings, plus an introduction to the Champion initiative, to prepare staff to work toward your center’s goals.
  • Provide a toolkit of materials to:
    • Support family style dining during mealtimes.
    • Enhance physical activity for children.
    • Support preschool teachers in leading nutrition and movement lessons in the classroom.

After 16-weeks, centers will:

  • Become part of a network of other Champion centers working toward sustaining similar goals.
  • Receive a Refresher Training from your Eat Well Play Hard Nutritionist.
  • Be invited to annual Advanced Practice Workshops for continued support of healthy lifestyles in your center.

Contact

Sarah Blank
Eat Well Play Hard Advisor
ses447@cornell.edu
(315) 736-3394 x117

Last updated February 11, 2021