Child Care Center Building a Healthier Future For Young Texans (3/30/2016)

SAN ANTONIO – Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller today visited the Kids R Fun child care center in San Antonio and planted a garden full of zucchini, basil, tomatoes and bell peppers with young Texans enrolled at the center. Kids R Fun participates in the Texas Department of Agriculture’s (TDA) Child and Adult Food Care Program (CACFP), as well as TDA’s Establishing 3E’s Grant program to go above and beyond to incorporate best practices in providing nutrient-rich foods, exercise and a supportive child care environment.

“The best time to build the foundation for a lifetime of health is early on, when children are still forming their food preferences and building habits, and child care centers are a critical part of that education,” Commissioner Miller said. “Through centers like Kids R Fun that participate in our Child and Adult Food Care Program, we are working together to build strong partnerships that advocate for the 3E’s of Healthy Living – Education, Exercise and Eating Right, and build a stronger future for the Lone Star State.”

As a recipient of the Establishing 3E’s Grant Program, Kids R Fun received $22,500 to work toward obtaining a Healthier CACFP Recognition Award. This award promotes healthy lifestyles for children in early childhood care and recognizes providers who incorporate best practices and create an improved child care environment. Kids R Fun is working to achieve the highest level recognition with the Gold Award.

The Healthier CACFP Recognition Award program is currently in its first year. As part of its efforts to earn the Gold Award, Kids R Fun has incorporated healthier options at meals and snacks, focused on cooking from scratch, expanded their garden, established relationships with local growers to purchase food, served meals family-style and expanded options for breastfeeding mothers. These efforts are building a stronger, healthier Texas, and are a model for building the foundation for a healthy life.

For photos from today’s event, click here. To learn more about the Healthier CACFP Recognition Award program, click here.