Colorado Child Care Rises Towards Healthier Weight for Kids

Share On Social!

New healthy food and activity standards have been passed in Colorado child care centers thanks to the Colorado Department of Human Services (CDHS) Office of Early Childhood and the Colorado Board of Health.

Children will now have access to healthier foods, beverages, and enjoy more physical activity and less screen time. Rules set for the governing of licensed child care facilities are as follows:

• meals and snack must meet current USDA nutrition requirements
• no sugary drinks are allowed except 100% juice, twice a week.
• 60 minutes of physical activity will be required, part time centers are required 30 mins a day of physical activity
• Screen time will be limited to 30 minutes a week for TV, and 15-minute increments for tablets and computers for no more than 30 minutes a day

Latino kids are more likely to have less access to safe places to play. Opening the doors for children to play and lowering screen time may help Latino kids have more physical activity. Also allowing for healthier diets with less sugary drinks and high-fat foods during school hours, may help increase nutrition in Latino kids daily diet.

Mark Wallace, the director of public health in Weld County (28.8% Latino) also was quoted about this change in a recent article,“There is a higher [overweight and obesity] rate in Hispanic and Latino residents compared to those who are non-Hispanic or Latino,” Wallace said. “We’ll be looking to see how well aligned are all activities around the community that all the different agencies might be engaging in to see if we can really drive home a change.” 

Prevent Obesity stated on their website, “These rule changes are a common-sense way to fight childhood obesity without unduly burdening child care facilities. They will hardly cost child care centers any money to implement, but they will have a substantial, measurable impact on the health of our youngest residents.”

To learn more about how foods impact Latino childhood obesity, click here.