PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 27, 2010
Start Healthy Habits Early Act - Amends the child and adult care food program (CACFP) under the Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act.
Requires the Secretary of Agriculture, at least once every ten years, to review and, as appropriate, update nutritional requirements for meals and snacks served under the CACFP to ensure that they meet the most recent Dietary Guidelines for Americans and promote the health of those served.
Prohibits CACFP providers from using reimbursable meal service as a punishment or reward.
Showing the opening paragraphs of the official summary.
Requires fluid milk served as part of a reimbursable meal or snack to meet the most recent Dietary Guidelines and appropriate authoritative scientific recommendations for young children. Allows nondairy substitutes to be served to children who cannot consume fluid milk, provided the substitutes are nutritionally equivalent to fluid milk and meet certain nutritional standards.
Requires CACFP providers to make potable water available to children throughout the day, including at meal times.
Directs the Secretary to provide technical assistance and guidance to CACFP providers and states regarding: (1) nutritional requirements; (2) age-appropriate physical activity and electronic media use by children; (3) parental involvement in nutrition and wellness initiatives; and (4) food choking hazards.
Requires the Secretary to: (1) award competitive grants to states and, through them, subgrants to institutions participating in the CACFP to promote health and nutrition in child care settings; and (2) provide states and such institutions with best practices for implementing effective nutrition and wellness initiatives.
People & committees
Rep. McCarthy, Carolyn [D-NY-4] · D–NY
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Healthy Families and Communities.
Referred to the House Committee on Education and Labor.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 14, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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