Takeaways for Head Start Programs

• Your program may already be engaging in many of these best practices. You may be using full-fat dairy, whole grains, and a greater variety of vegetables and fruit – and minimizing ultra-processed foods, added sugar, and saturated fat – as part of your daily programming.
• You can continue to explore increasing nutrient-dense foods in your program’s meal and snack planning by encouraging collaboration and support from your program’s Health Manager and nutritional food services team.
• Parents are encouraged to consult their pediatricians or registered dieticians for personalized recommendations. Programs should collaborate with parents to discuss what best meets the nutritional health needs of their child.
• Programs are also encouraged to consult with members of their Health and Mental Health Services Advisory Committee (HMHSAC) on ways to explore including full-fat milk and dairy, whole grains, and other nutrient dense foods within their program and to educate families on  the importance of reducing consumption of ultra-processed foods, added sugar intake, and saturated fats which can have negative health outcomes.
• The Head Start program does remarkable work to support positive health outcomes for children and families. We can all do more to expand our reach – among the families we serve and the broader communities with which we partner – to nourish the futures of our nation’s children.

Building Healthy Habits

In addition to providing access to nutritious foods, Head Start programs also instill healthy habits in young children and their families that serve as a foundation for healthy choices in life.

• Emerging research continues to support the benefits of serving food family style. The evidence suggests that family style meals provide an opportunity for childcare providers to model clean eating, which is associated with healthier food consumption in children. (Fisher et al., 2003; Hennessy et al., 2015; Story et al., 2008).
• Programs can teach children appropriate portion size and support obesity prevention by using plates, bowls, and cups that are developmentally suited to their nutritional needs (National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child Care and Early Education, 2020).
• Programs can support families to have children explore a wider range of healthy foods by offering new foods many times, trying different preparation methods, and making new foods easier to eat by cutting items such as fruits and vegetables into small, bite-sized pieces.

Avoiding Negative Health Consequences

Head Start programs ensure that children receive a variety of nutrient-dense foods, including whole grains, a variety of fresh fruits, and vegetables, all while reducing intake of ultra-processed foods, added sugar intake, and saturated fats. These can have negative health consequences and lead to chronic conditions such as obesity, heart disease, and diabetes.

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Last Updated: March 19, 2025