"Looking for candy for the kids (or kids at heart) in your life who have food allergies? Check out this candy guide for food-allergy-friendly sweets. The guide includes candy and gum options free of the most common food allergens – milk, egg, soy, peanut, tree nuts (not including coconut), sesame, wheat, gluten, fish, and shellfish.

Remember, read labels every time on any food you give your child or any food item your child receives. Ingredients can vary for many reasons, especially on different sizes and treats in seasonal packaging.

Looking for non-food treat ideas? We've got you covered - check out this list!" (Medical Review: August 2021)

First Food developed a Breastfeeding-Friendly Child Care Guide to explain how child care programs can best support breast/chestfeeding parents and the children in their care, by following national breastfeeding and infant feeding standards. (July 2023)

View these recipes that support children's healthy growth and development with ingredients that are fresh, low in fat, and high in fiber. Check out these free printable posters: / 

Recipes for Healthy Snacks / Quick Bites Poster / Finger Foods Poster

July 2025: Federal law requires that the publication called "Dietary Guidelines for Americans" must be reviewed, updated as necessary and published every 5 years. The guidelines emphasize calorie balance to achieve and sustain a healthy weight, as well as a focus on nutrient-dense foods and beverages. Policy-makers use these guidelines to develop educational materials and carry out nutrition-related programs. Use this link for more information on Dietary Guidelines, from the United States Department of Agriculture. Or view the guidelines here: Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 (PDF)

When someone develops a food allergy, everyone in the family must learn to adapt. FARE (Food Allergy and Research) provides information and resources. Food Allergy 101 includes facts on what food allergies are and are not, how to recognize the symptoms and further testing. If you or a loved one has a food allergy, you should have a Food and Allergy Anaphylaxis Emergency Care Plan. This plan outlines recommended treatment in case of an allergic reaction; it includes emergency contact information and is signed by a physician or state licensed medical provider and the parent.

The United States Breastfeeding Committee (USBC): Emergencies often occur when least expected, and sometimes when we are least prepared. They can include a wide range of unsettling events, including personal or family crises, public health emergencies (such as a flu pandemic), acts of terror and violence, and natural disasters or weather-related events (such as floods and blizzards).

USBC: Facts about Breastfeeding and Human Milk Feeding During Emergencies

This webpage is packed with great information! You'll find materials for families in both English and Spanish, resources to share with Lactation Support Providers and Emergency Responders, and a recorded webinar.

Food Banks: The following Feeding Pennsylvania and Hunger-Free Pennsylvania member food banks offer food assistance services in each county through a network of nearly 3,000 local charitable partners – including food pantries, soup kitchens, feeding programs, and shelters. Please contact them directly for assistance or to find out how you can help support their mission. See the full list here, and Food Banks by County (PDF).

The Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAPSACC) project at the UNC Center for Health Promotion and Disease Prevention is now “Go NAPSACC.” Go NAPSACC features an interactive website. Look there for resources for children from birth-5 years, a focus on breastfeeding and infant feeding, screen time, and outdoor play. Go NAPSACC can be adapted for different child care settings, including family child care homes. 

The Go NAPSACC website, found at www.gonapsacc.org, gives technical assistance professionals self-assessments and tools. Follow Go NAPSACC on Facebook.

"Have you ever wondered why it's so difficult to get kids to eat their vegetables? Not wanting to eat broccoli is rooted in a great deal of more complicated issues than just not liking green food. How we come to like certain foods is associated with many factors and is referred to as food preferences." Learn more about food preferences, the food and beverage industry, how snacks and food are marketed to children, food in media, and what can be done about it in How Children Develop Unhealthy Food Preferences from HealthyChildren.com.

Help your preschooler eat well, be active, and grow up healthy! Young children look to you as they learn, develop and grow healthy eating habits. Make every bite count. Check out Healthy Eating Tips, Picky Eating, Serve Safe Food Info, MyPlate on Alexa, Resources, and Tip Sheets for Preschoolers on MyPlate.gov.

Infancy and early childhood are periods of rapid growth and development, and nutrition plays a vital role. Healthy food supports brain development and supports optimal growth and development. There are well-established links between food insecurity and poor child health and behavioral outcomes at every age. 

The December 2025 Health Trends in Early Childhood explores the impact of hunger on the rapid growth and development of young children, and how understanding what and how to feed children in infancy through the early years can help establish healthy habits that will carry through into adulthood.

MyPlate.gov can help you make healthy choices within your budget. Find savings in your area and discover new ways to prepare budget-friendly foods. Scan the QR Code here to view Shop Simple on MyPlate.gov. How it works: Enter your zip code to find rewards and stores that accept SNAP EBT near you and discover tips for buying and preparing budget-friendly foods.