Participation assures | keep up to date with nutrition standards. In many cases, the meals served at child care are the most nutritious meals children receive so it is critical that they get good nutrition to help them stay healthy and develop well. It is also an avenue to introduce different foods that they may never experience at home. The food allowance stipend allows me to purchase and prepare nutritious, mostly home-cooked meals. Without this allowance, | am certain that meals | could personally budget to serve the number of children | care for would be significantly less on the nutrition scale. The stipend also allows me to keep my fees lower so without it, everyone loses.