Build A
Better Body
Importance of Role Modeling
Assessment:
Answer the questions to assess your role modeling behaviors. If you answer no to more than two
questions, change your habits and reassess your actions in one month.
Build A
Volume III
2008
Better Body
Importance of Role Modeling
1. Do your children see you eat nutritious foods and drink milk instead of soda?
How many times have you heard the expression ‘actions
speak louder than words’? Well, it is true! As providers,
you have considerable influence over what the children
who are in your care are willing to sample or eat.
Children are more likely to try foods if they see adults
eat them. They watch, imitate and look to you to learn
proper behavior, including eating. Children learn by
example.
2. Do you limit non nutritious foods in your home?
3. Do you keep your food dislikes to yourself?
4. Do you encourage your kids to try new foods?
7. Do you use non food items as rewards?
What Children
Should Learn
About Food and
Eating
8. Do you eat breakfast?
A child should know:
9. Do you serve a new food regularly and are you willing to try it?
When hungry, healthy
food will be available.
5. Do you encourage 5 servings of fruits or vegetables in your family’s diet?
6. Have you begun to incorporate whole grains in your children’s diet at an early age?
10. Do you avoid discussing diets or limiting calories to lose weight in front of your children?
In accordance with federal law and U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin,
sex, age, disability or retaliation. If you require information about this program, activity or facility in a language other than English, contact the USDA agency responsible
for the program or activity, or any USDA office. If you require this information in alternative format (Braille, large print, audiotape, etc.) contact the USDA’s TARGET Center
at (202) 720-2600 (Voice or TDD).
To file a complaint of alleging discrimination, write: USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights; 1400 Independence Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410, or call toll free
(866) 632-9992 (Voice). TDD users can contact the USDA through local relay or the Federal Relay at (800) 877-8339 (TDD) or (866) 377-8642 (relay voice users). USDA is
an equal opportunity provider and employer.
WEST VIRGINIA BOARD OF EDUCATION
2008-2009
Dr. Steven L. Paine
State Superintendent of Schools
Establishing healthy habits can be very difficult if a
child receives mixed messages. So ask yourself:
Likes and preferences will
be considered.
Food choices affect how
we feel and act.
There are ways to make
unhappy feelings go away
without using food for
comfort.

Do you snack all day rather than have routine
meal times?

Do you skip breakfast?

Do you drink soda rather than milk or water?

Do you diet all the time or have a fear of food?

Do you talk about your food dislikes?

Do you use food as a reward?

Do you have empty calorie foods available, rather
than healthy choices?
If you answered yes to two or more questions, you may
be sending unhealthy messages to children about food.
Delores W. Cook, President; Priscilla M. Haden, Vice President; Jenny N. Phillips, Secretary
Robert W. Dunlevy, Member; Barbara N. Fish, Member; Burma Hatfield, Member
Lowell E. Johnson, Member; L. Wade Linger, Jr., Member; Gayle C. Manchin, Member
Brian E. Noland, Ex Officio; James L. Skidmore, Ex Officio; Steven L. Paine, Ex Officio
West Virginia Department of Education
TIPS
These concepts are crucial
in a child’s emotional
relationship with food. To
assure children these
concepts will happen,
caregivers should practice
the following strategies:
 When hungry, healthy food will
be available by setting
regular meal and snack
times, serving choices of
colorful, appealing foods.
 Likes and preferences will be
considered when children
may choose what and
how much of what is offered
and they are included in menu
planning.
 Food choices affect how they
feel and act when they learn
how food helps the body and
why a variety of foods are on
the table.
 There are ways to make
unhappy feelings go away
without using food for
comfort.
The message is actions speak
louder than words, so we must
practice what we preach!
Build A
Better Body
Actions: Like reading, writing, hand
washing and good personal hygiene, learning
good food habits is a life skill that can help
children live a healthy, satisfying life.

Establish a meal time routine that children
can count on to avoid the ‘grumpy
hungrys’. Kids need to eat every three to
four hours.

Never skip meals, especially breakfast.

Take moderate portions.

Turn off the TV or other distractions
during meal time.

Make conversation in positive tones and
about pleasant topics.(See Conversation
Starters)

Encourage children to try new foods with a
‘no-thank you bite’, however avoid using
food as a reward.

Serve a variety of foods and make
interesting connections to new foods.

If possible, let children help you prepare
foods, set the table, put out the napkins
or toss a salad.

Incorporate physical activity in the day to
build a healthy appetite. This helps you
take care of yourself, too.

Stay informed of proper nutrition needs
through reliable resources, workshops, or
training opportunities.
A nurturing place to eat is caring, calm and respectful
and safe from injury like choking.
Build A
Better Body
NUTRITION
TOOL!
Tutti Fruitti Cones (six servings)
Ingredients:
1 banana, sliced
1 cup mandarin orange
1 1/2 cups pineapple chunks, drained
1 cup strawberries, sliced
1/2 cup blueberries
3/4 cup lowfat lemon yogurt
6 ice cream cones
Method:
Combine fruit and yogurt. Spoon 3/4 cup fruit in
cone and serve immediately.
ACTIVITY
TOOL!
Tutti Fruitti Scramble
Have children draw or color pictures of different fruit and
vegetables on sheets of 8.5x11 size paper. Tack pictures to
the floor with sticky tape, creating a large mat. Announce
fruit or vegetable names and children must place a hand or
foot on the correct picture. When a child has all hands and
feet on mat, another child will join in the game. See how
many kids can fit on the mat. (Think of the game ‘Twister’)
Conversation Starters:
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What food you would never give up eating?
What is your favorite winter (or other seasons)
memory?
If you owned a store, what would you sell?
What would you like to be famous for someday?
What would you do if you got lost in a big city?
What is your favorite thing to do on a rainy day?
What is the hardest thing you have ever done?
Which would you choose being able to do:
fly or become invisible?
How long could you go without watching TV?
What is the best way to say you are sorry to
someone?
What makes a good loser? And are you one?