Some parents in Charlottesville want more of a say in what their kids eat at their child care facility. They've created a healthy eating committee to bring more fresh fruits and vegetables to day care.
It's important for Inessa Telefus to cook healthy meals for her 4-year-old daughter Charlotte.
"This is buckwheat. When I was little this is what my mom made for me," Telefus said.
But it's equally important for Charlotte to receive healthy meals when she's at day care.
"We think it's an opportunity for a child care provider to teach children healthy habits and to give them food with necessary nutrients and vitamins," Telefus said.
Telefus started the Children's Healthy Eating Committee with other parents from her daughter's day care center. Heidi Marquard and Alpana Gautam are among the committee members.
"Because I'm a paying customer I should be much more involved in the decisions of what's being served," Marquard said.
Gautam has a 3-year-old daughter in day care.
"Five days a week she goes to day care so I'm just concerned that she should eat healthy nutritious diet at the day care. That's why I'm apart of this committee," Gautam said.
The committee created a newsletter to teach parents how to read food labels. For birthday parties, instead of cupcakes and ice cream, the committee suggests giving kids fresh fruits and vegetables.
"We also celebrated Thomas Jefferson's birthday on April 13 and had real peas, his favorite vegetable," Telefus said.
In the United States about one-third of children are overweight or obese. Rita Smith a registered dietician said, teaching kids healthy eating habits starts at home.
"A school system isn't responsible for children to learn everything there is about eating well and eating healthy but they can facilitate what parents are doing," Smith said.
