Young children who attend child care centres spend a major part of their day at the care centre while their parents are at work. For these children, child care centres play an important role in shaping their food habits.

Research has found that children form food preferences mostly during their pre-school years, and acquire eating habits and preferences which remain with them later on in life. Pre-schoolers are ready and eager learners, and this allows child care providers the opportunity to cultivate healthy eating habits. 

In view of this, the Health Promotion Board (HPB), in collaboration with the Family Services Department of the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports (MCYS), introduced the "Healthy Eating in Child Care Centres Programmes" in 2005".