Department of Family Relations and Applied Nutrition, University of Guelph, ON.
Child Care Operations, University of Guelph, ON.
Can J Diet Pract Res. 2024 Mar 1;85(1):20-24. doi: 10.3148/cjdpr-2023-015. Epub 2023 Sep 21.
International health organizations have called for a shift towards more plant-based foods as a way of promoting both individual health and environmental sustainability. Given the high percentage of children in Canada who attend childcare and the high volume of food provided in childcare, transitioning menus to incorporate plant-based foods could have important implications for both planetary and child health. The purpose of this case study is to describe a childcare centre's transition to a plant-based menu. A detailed nutritional analysis of the menu was conducted. The financial and logistical implications of the transitions to a plant-based menu were also assessed. Nutritional analysis revealed that the plant-based menu met or exceeded the daily nutrient requirement for all the key nutrients explored. Financially, the transition led to a 9% reduction in food costs. Logistically, the transition led to improved efficiency and safety with regard to food preparation, with substantially fewer tailored meals due to allergies and dietary restrictions required after the transition. These novel findings are relevant for food service administrators interested in transitioning to a plant-based menu as well as public health dietitians who could support the transition.
国际卫生组织呼吁更多地转向植物性食品，以促进个人健康和环境可持续性。鉴于加拿大有很高比例的儿童在日托中心接受照顾，而且日托中心提供的食物数量很大，将菜单转变为以植物性食品为主可能对地球和儿童健康都有重要影响。本案例研究旨在描述一家日托中心向植物性菜单的转变。对菜单进行了详细的营养分析。还评估了向植物性菜单过渡的财务和后勤影响。营养分析表明，植物性菜单满足或超过了所有探索的关键营养素的日常营养需求。从财务角度来看，这一转变使食品成本降低了 9%。从后勤角度来看，这一转变提高了食品准备的效率和安全性，由于过敏和饮食限制，所需的定制餐减少了很多。这些新发现与有兴趣转向植物性菜单的餐饮服务管理人员以及可以支持这一转变的公共卫生营养师有关。
