National Recognition for Children’s Council
Children’s Council of San Francisco has been recognized as a national leader in the fight against childhood obesity. Let’s Move! Child Care honored Children’s Council’s Health and Nutrition Manager Amy Nelson during its national recognition event on Thursday, April 23 in Las Vegas.
Children’s Council is one of 16 honorees nationally – and the only one from the Bay Area – selected from more than 160 child care providers and community-based organizations that were nominated. To be eligible, organizations must participate in the USDA Child Care Food Program, which gives financial support to child care providers for serving healthy meals and snacks.
Children’s Council serves around 275 Bay Area family child care homes through the Food Program. This adds up to over 2,000 children who are eating healthier food. And since many children consume 50% to 75% of their daily calories while in child care, the program has a big impact on their health.
“Our immediate goal is to develop healthy habits for young children,” said Nelson. “But our work also includes education for child care providers and parents. That’s the key to changing the health of a community.”
For this national recognition, Let’s Move! Child Care sought out organizations going above and beyond participation in the Food Program. Children’s Council stood out for its comprehensive approach to childhood health and nutrition.
For example, child care providers can attend free classes to learn about reading food labels, eating seasonally, and cooking with whole grains. Children’s Council runs the Healthy Apple Program, which supports child care providers with one-on-one coaching, goal-setting, and workshops that help providers achieve best practices in nutrition and physical education for young children.
Children’s Council also partners with 18 Reasons, a community cooking school, to offer a regular series called Cooking Matters, where parents and children learn the importance of eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Each week families prepare and eat a healthy meal together.
Amy Nelson takes a big picture view of her team’s work. “Our program is all about creating opportunities for children, families and child care providers to eat well and be active.,” she says. “We give people practical ways to make physical activity and nutritious food simple, fun and affordable, so that healthy habits become part of their daily routine.”
Click here to learn more about Children’s Council’s Health and Nutrition programs.