Learning Care Group
2017 Progress Report
Design and implement programming, policies, and procedures to be used in daily operations so that Learning Care Group child care centers can ensure that all children are being provided the healthiest available food choices and the recommended amount of time dedicated to physical activity. This will include: eliminating sugar-sweetened beverages, increasing consumption of fruits and vegetables at every meal, eliminating fried foods, confirming that no time is being spent in front of televisions or video games and that computer use is limited to educational activity and ensuring children engage in at least 1-2 hours of physical activity daily.
Verified Results
Partner Statement
Learning Care Group is honored to be named the 2017 PHA Partner of the Year in recognition of its healthy practices. At every Learning Care Group school, the company continues to deliver on its commitment to prioritize nutrition and fitness through Grow Fit, its comprehensive healthy lifestyle initiative. Created by a registered dietician nutritionist, the Grow Fit menu now offers over 50 fruits and vegetables, lean proteins, more than 30 multi-cultural offerings, and more than 30 whole grain options. Having already eliminated all fried foods and juice from the Grow Fit menu, LCG is now in the process of converting the remaining non-whole grain offerings to whole grain. The company has now eliminated all grain-based desserts from the menu, further reducing consumption of sugar and saturated fats. As LCG continues to implement new best practices for fitness and nutrition, its advancements also are driving positive changes among other early education providers. The company has worked closely with its vendors to introduce healthier versions of child favorites such as chicken nuggets, cheese ravioli and granola – new product offerings now also served by other childcare providers. The latest nutritious new menu item to emerge from LCG’s innovative thinking is a whole grain, high-protein cracker, featured on the Grow Fit menu as the Jumping Bean cracker. Physical activity is an essential part of every school day throughout Learning Care Group. The company is now further augmenting its physical fitness curriculum with new guided activities for indoor and outdoor play. In 2017, LCG introduced its Grow Fit Yoga program for Preschool and Pre-K students. Working with the Rudd Center for Food Policy & Obesity, LCG completed its rigorous 36-month study of the facilitators and challenges involved with implementing a wellness initiative across a large number of childcare centers. The results will be published in the coming months.