Best Practice Toolkit for
Improving the Quality of Food
Served in Early Care and
Education Centers
CACFP NPA
April 3, 2014
Bronwen McCormick
Rainbow In My Tummy® Director
Verner Center for Early Learning
What is Rainbow In My Tummy®?
Rainbow In My Tummy
(RIMT) is a comprehensive
strategy for improving the
quality of food served in
Early Care and Education
Centers and for cultivating
a food culture surrounding
children that lays a
foundation for lifelong
health.
Our current reality….
$10 billion spent on
advertising unhealthy foods…
most are aimed at children
Top foods consumed by
children: pizza, sweet snacks,
and fruit juices
1/3 of Children in the US are
overweight or obese
Cheap, compliant, and fast
”Obesity prevention requires center based
interventions early that include a combination
of approaches…waiting until kindergarten is
too late.”
“We must pay attention to environmental
factors.”
Institute of Medicine
History and Implementation
Created by Verner Center for Early Learning as a way to provide a variety
of nutrient dense foods that were healthy, delicious, and CACFP
compliant.
Implemented in 14 Early Care and Education Centers in Buncombe
County, NC; currently working with 4 centers in McDowell County
Focus on changing entire center culture around food — not just the food
RIMT Components
Menus, production
guides, recipes, CACFP
compliance documents
Food production support
and training
Consensus building for
key stakeholders
RIMT Components
Nutrition
education for
staff and parents
Integration of
nutritional
literacy in the
classroom
RIMT Components
Creation of a healthy center environment and
support for modeling healthy behaviors
“Posters, pictures, and
decorations that
communicate nutrition
messages can help
reinforce nutrition
concepts taught by childcare providers and
modeled during meals
and snacks.”
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Measurement and Observations
62-point assessment
categorized into kitchen
and food service, menus,
environment, and center
components
Adoption of a center food
policy and documentation
of a continuous
improvement process
Implementation success
and sustainability
Evidence-Based Best Practice
Widely Accepted and Respected
Recommendations
USDA Dietary Guidelines for
Americans 2010 (DGA 2010)
Child and Adult Care Food Program
(USDA)
Head Start and Early Head Start
IOM recommendations for Early
Child Care (2011)
IOM recommended revisions for
CACFP (2011)
Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics
Benchmarks for Nutrition in Child
Care (2011)
American Academy of Pediatrics
Recommendations for Prevention
of Childhood Obesity (2007)
Harvard School of Public Health
Nutrition Source
Multi-phase Approach
Building a foundation
of nutritional literacy
Program
implementation
Continuous support
and improvement
RIMT Principles
Real kids eat real food
Quality defined
Eat your colors
Education at all levels
Menus reflect DGA
2010 nutrition
recommendations
”All young children share the need for healthy
food, optimum physical activity….and
protection from the negative influences of too
much sedentary behavior and marketing of
unhealthy foods and beverages to children.”
Institute of Medicine
Impact
“My child does not come home grumpy.”
Parent
“We are no longer junk food junkies.” Center Staff
“Our food costs have not gone up!”
Center Director
“RIMT has inspired us to eat healthier at home.”
Parent
“We have increased the amount of fresh fruits and
vegetables served by 85%.” Center Director
Future Work
Research collaborations to measure impact of program on healthy weights
upon K-12 entry
Implementation outside of Buncombe County, NC (McDowell County in
early 2014)
Rollout of RIMT Certification Program
Development of family engagement components to support impact in
home environment
Partner programming to support obesity prevention and healthy food
initiatives for young children
For more information, contact Bronwen McCormick
bmccormick@verneremail.org
828-298-0808
Verner
2586 Riceville Road, Asheville NC 28805