Posted: Friday, April 16, 2010 --- 4:19 a.m.

In our family first today, how one local health care provider is supporting families and even daycares as they try to eat healthier and support the Dane County economy.

Dean Health is reimbursing individuals up to 100 dollars or families up to 200 for taking part in the Community Supported Agriculture program, or CSA.

It's where you sign up to receive a box of food and farm products every week and it's even being used at local daycares like "Once Upon a Time."

Melissa Phillips, a registered dietitian with Dean, talks about why this makes a difference for growing kids.

" The fruits and vegetables are more nutritious, not losing vitamins and minerals during shipping, b/c that can certainly happen. We're supporting local agriculture which is always good too. "

Here at Once Upon a Time, the kids are loving the food - and it helps a ton that the teachers show the kids how much they like it too.

It's also a way to cut back on costs for these businesses, which can trickle down to parents.

"When we buy produce from some of the big distributors it's very expensive so the CSAs are a great way for the daycares to save a little bit of money too. "

We're reminded parents need to support the concept too to make a dent in childhood obesity epidemic.