Reducing Sugar in the Child Care Menu
Lesson Overview
Lesson Participants: CACFP personnel and other child care staff
Type of Lesson: Short face-to-face training session
Time Needed to Conduct the Lesson: 10 minutes
Lesson Description: This lesson explains how to reduce sugar in child care menus for
healthier choices.
Lesson Objectives
At the completion of the lesson the participant will be able to
1. Reduce sugar in child care menus with alternate food choices and preparation
methods.
Get Ready to Train
The format for the CARE Connection lesson plans include an overview, preparation
checklist, lesson-at-a-glance with timeline for conducting the lesson, script, and lists of
references and other resources. The instructor will use the script to present the lesson to the
participants. Each script gives directions to the instructor—DO, SAY, ASK—to deliver the
lesson.
The lesson can be presented in the child care center or family day care home, media center,
or classroom.
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Reducing Sugar in the Child Care Menu
Alternate Approaches to Lesson
1. Instead of following the lesson plan, show the CARE Connection video, Food
Preparation. The video is approximately 18 minutes; allow 10 minutes for follow-up
discussion after the video.
2. The video may be used as a substitute lesson for an employee who was not present for
the face-to-face training or to review material for an employee needing additional
information.
3. The face-to-face training may be extended with the use of the video.
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Reducing Sugar in the Child Care Menu
Preparation Checklist
Directions: Use the Preparation Checklist to get ready for the training session. Keep track of
your progress by checking off tasks as they are completed.
Done
;
Lesson Tasks
Gather Materials
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Materials Needed:
• Instructor’s Script
• Handout 1: Section 2 Nutrition Needs of Young Children, Grab and Go
Lesson 8, Reduce the Sugar in Child Care Menus. Click on the title to
access the link.
• Pens or pencils (one for each participant)
• Session Evaluation/Feedback Form (one for each participant)
Prepare for Lesson
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Before the Training:
• Make enough copies of Handout 1 for each participant.
• Make copies of Session Evaluation/Feedback Form (one for each
participant). You may use the sample NFSMI evaluation form linked here or
develop your own.
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On Training Day:
• Place pens or pencils on tables (one for each participant).
• Distribute Handout 1 to each participant.
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On the Instructor’s Table:
• Instructor’s Script
• Instructor’s copy of Handout 1
• Session Evaluation/Feedback Forms
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Reducing Sugar in the Child Care Menu
Lesson at a Glance
(10 minutes)
Time
3 minutes
5 minutes
2 minutes
Topic
Introduction and
Overview
Objective 1: Reduce
sugar in child care
menus with alternate
food choices and
preparation methods.
Session
evaluation/feedback
Task
Introduce topic
Materials
• Instructor’s Script
Use Handout 1 to review and
discuss.
• Script
• Handout 1:
Lesson 8
Conduct a short evaluation of
the lesson.
• Sample
evaluation/
feedback form or
standard form
used in your child
nutrition program
References
Bazarte, M. & Beseler, L. (2003). Nurturing with nutrition. Gulfstream, FL: DMI.
National Food Service Management Institute. (2008). CARE Connection Curriculum.
University, MS: Author.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. (2005). USDA Recipes for Child Care.
Internet Resources
http://www.fns.usda.gov
http://www.health.gov/dietaryguidelines/
http://www.healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/
http://www.nfsmi.org/
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Reducing Sugar in the Child Care Menu
Instructor’s Script
SAY:
Today we are going to learn some ways to make our child care menus healthier by talking
about ways to reduce the sugar.
Sugar is added to many processed foods. Foods that are mostly sugar supply few other
nutrients a child needs. We also know sugar can cause tooth decay, will raise blood sugar
quickly, and contributes to obesity. Read the Nutrition Facts Label on products to limit the
amount of sugars, including high fructose corn syrup. Anything with “-ose” in the name is a
type of sugar, such as fructose or lactose. Also look for brown sugar, honey, or molasses.
DO:
Distribute copies of Handout 1: Reduce the Sugar in Child Care Menus.
Hold up your copy for participants to see.
SAY:
Look at the list of “Tips to Reduce Sugar …” What are some ideas you could easily try in your
child care center? Pick out two or three to share with the group.
DO:
Allow time for reading and sharing.
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Reducing Sugar in the Child Care Menu
Review Key Points to Close Lesson
SAY:
Today we have learned some ways to reduce sugar in our menus. Reading food labels on
processed foods will help you learn which foods are high in sugar. You can also make changes
in the foods on your menus to reduce sugar, such as using canned fruit packed in juice or light
syrup, rather than heavy syrup which is highly sweetened.
Try using some of the other suggestions we mentioned today as you plan menus, make
purchases, and prepare foods.
DO:
Distribute the session evaluation/feedback form.
SAY:
Thank you for participating in the lesson today. Please take a couple of minutes to complete
the session evaluation/feedback form. Thank you for your input.
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