Beverages contribute to the quality of children’s diets. In
addition, children often continue their early diet habits
into adulthood.1
Because of these factors, teaching young
Children to have a healthy diet is a priority. Many children in the United States participate in early care and education
(ECE) programs before starting kindergarten. About
70% of 4- and 5-year-old children and 43% of 3-year-old children attend ECE centers. Because of their potential to reach so many young children, ECE settings are good places to teach them healthy eating behaviors.
The United States is having an epidemic of obesity. Unfortunately, even some of our youngest children are
affected and, currently, nearly one of four children 2–5
years of age is overweight or obese.3 Beverages can be a large source of calories for preschool children.4 Drinking too much soda, sports drinks, and
fruit-flavored drinks can lead children to take in excess calories and added sugars.
In contrast, tap water is a low cost, calorie-free drink. Drinking tap water can reduce added
sugars and extra calories when it is served to children instead of sugary drinks and excess juice.5
Tap water also helps to hydrate children’s growing bodies, and fluoridated tap water can help prevent cavities.6Water Access Requirements and Recommendations
The federal Healthy, Hunger-Free Kids Act of 2010 established a requirement to make water
available to children at child care centers and family child care homes participating in the Child and Adult Care Food Program (CAC FP).7
Specifically, the act requires centers and homes to make water available to children throughout the day, including at meal times and upon children’s requests. It is important to note that, although water is not a component of a reimbursable
Meal, it can be served during meals and snacks along with milk and other healthier beverages.
However, plain water should not be given to infants younger than 6 months of age, according to expert recommendations published in Caring for Our Children: National Health and Safety
Performance Standards: Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd edition (Caring for Our Children).8In addition to federal law, many states have separate licensing regulations on water in ECE settings. As of 2013, ECE licensing regulations in 30 states required all licensed providers to make drinking water available to children whether they were inside or outside the building.9 In many states, CAC FP nutrition requirements apply to non-CAC FP centers and family child care homes as weThe importance of drinking water is highlighted in many dietary recommendations. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 recommends that Americans “reduce the intake of
calories from solid fats and added sugars.”10 Replacing sugary drinks with water is a good way to reduce children’s intake of added sugars. Ready access to drinking water throughout the day, both indoors and outdoors, is a recommended ECE standard included in the third edition of Caring for Our Children.10 The First Lady’s Let’s Move! Child Care initiative also features a
recommendation that drinking water be visible and available inside and outside for self-service throughout the day.11 Drinking Water Quality and Water Testing
Ensuring the quality and safety of the water you serve to the children in your care is important.
You should be aware of the regulations and performance standards regarding the testing
of drinking water in ECE facilities in your locality. These regulations and standards differ, depending on whether you receive water from a municipal water utility or from a private well.
If Your Facility Gets Water from a Municipal Water Utility…
The United States has one of the safest drinking water supplies in the world.12 If your facility
gets water from a water utility, then the water you receive is tested regularly according to
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) standards. Contact your local water utility for the most recent water quality report.
Though tap water is tested before it enters the water system, it can sometimes become contaminated by lead, copper, or other contaminants from pipes and plumbing fixtures.12 These contaminants may make water unhealthy to drink, particularly for young children.12
For this reason, Caring for Our Children recommends
that drinking water be tested with the assistance of the
local health authority or state drinking water program
to determine whether lead and copper levels are safe.8
Caring for Our Children also recommends that you keep
copies of water testing reports on file for parents and
regulators to see.8Why Limit Juice to 4–6 oz per Day for Children 1 Year to 6 Years of Age?
Even though juice contains important nutrients,
a serving of juice usually contains more calories
than a serving of whole fruits or vegetables. For
example, a half cup (4 fluid oz) of apple slices
contains 28 calories.14 A half cup of apple juice
contains 58 calories,14 more than twice the calories
of the apple slices! Serving children more juice
than the recommended amount can result in
children taking in extra calories and potentially
becoming overweight or obese.10
To avoid having children drink too much juice,
consider serving whole fruits or vegetables
instead; doing this will satisfy the CACFP fruit
and vegetable requirements. Whole fruit is more
nutritious than fruit juice because it provides
dietary fiber. In addition, though juices contain
more calories, they do not make children feel as
full as whole fruits.15 When you serve whole fruit
or vegetables as part of a snack, water can be served
as the snack drink. However, plain water should
not be served to children younger than 6 months
of age.
Juice Drinks and Other Sugary Drinks
Both Let’s Move! Child Care and Caring for Our Children recommend that sugary drinks not
be served in ECE settings.8,11 These drinks include fruit drinks or juice drinks that are not 100%
juice, sports drinks, sweet tea, flavored milk, or soda.
Fruit drinks usually contain very little real juice and large amounts of added sugar. As of 2013,
30 states have regulations that prohibit serving juice that is not 100% juice in all licensed ECE
settings.9
Unfortunately, it is not always easy to tell the difference between 100% juice and sugar-
sweetened juice drinks based on the product name or packaging. For example, many products
labeled as providing “100% Vitamin C” are not 100% juice. Carefully read the nutrition labels
and ingredient lists on juices to be sure they are 100% juice before serving to children. Be a 100% Juice Detective,” for sample nutrition labels showing what to look for when selecting juice.
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