EAT RIGHT,
GROW STRONG
NUTRITION FOR YOUNG
CHILDREN
INSERT YOUR NAME
AND INFO HERE
OBJECTIVES
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Describe why good nutrition is so important for
young children.
Explain the components of a child care
environment that promote healthy eating.
Describe the role of child care staff in helping
shape children’s eating behaviors.
List some things staff can do in their
classroom to help children develop healthy
eating behaviors.
LET’S REVIEW
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More than 1 in 4 preschoolers are overweight
or obese
Being overweight is a risk to physical and
mental health
Poor nutrition contributes to weight gain
Child care providers can help keep children
healthy
NUTRITION
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Young children need to eat nutritious foods
because their bodies are growing rapidly.
Children may receive between 50% and 75% of
their daily calories at the child care facility.
Children learn healthy (or unhealthy) eating
habits at a very young age.
DISCUSSION
What have you noticed about the eating
habits of children in your program?
Have they changed over time?
WHAT DOES ALL THIS MEAN FOR
CHILD CARE PROVIDERS?
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Providers have an important influence on
children’s development of early eating habits
and attitudes.
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Children look up to their teachers and often
“model” their own eating habits based on
watching others.
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Providers can make changes to create a
better “food environment” so it’s easier for
children and staff to make healthier choices.
ROLE MODELING IS KEY
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Interact with children during meal times.
Sit at the table and eat with the children.
Gently encourage (but don’t force) children to
try bites of new or disliked foods.
Avoid using food as a reward.
Avoid eating unhealthy food in front of the
children.
Keep your (negative) opinions to yourself.
FRUITS AND VEGGIES
 A variety of fruits and vegetables
give children the vitamins and
minerals that keep them healthy
and help them grow.
 Fruits and vegetables are “nutrient dense” –
lots of nutrients but few calories, unless too
much butter, cheese, dressings or meat fats
are added.
 100% fruit and vegetable juices are less
nutritious and filling than the whole
fruits and vegetables themselves.
MAKE EATING FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES FUN!
How can you get kids to LOVE their fruits and
vegetables (or at least try them)?
 Serve them creatively.
 Use vegetables that the kids have
helped grow (try planting a few easy-togrow vegetables in a small raised bed).
 Let them help prepare them.
 Have a tasting party for your senses.
MAKE EATING FRUITS AND
VEGETABLES FUN!
How can you get kids to LOVE their fruits and
vegetables (or at least try them)?
 Make it a game! See how many colors you can
eat in one meal.
 Set a good example.
 Incorporate them into lessons by trying fruits
and vegetables from different places around
the world.
 Keep serving fruits and veggies until the
kids are used to them
MEATS AND FATS
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Most sausage, bacon, hot dogs, and other
processed meats have a lot of fat, sodium, and
calories, so consuming too much can contribute
to future health problems.
French fries and chicken nuggets are also high in
saturated fat and calories.

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Kids will also enjoy lower fat foods like baked
potatoes and baked chicken.
Consider occasionally replacing meat with
beans for a low fat option with lots of
fiber and protein.
DISCUSSION
 What methods of cooking are the
healthiest?
 What other foods could you start serving as
healthier alternatives to what you serve
now?
 What could make it hard to make these
changes?
 What are the benefits of making these
changes?
GRAINS AND SUGARS
 Fiber aids digestion and helps children feel
full. Try and incorporate high-fiber whole
grain foods at least once every day.
 Sugary and salty foods have a lot of “empty”
calories—they are often high in fat and
calories but have little nutritional value.
Serve these only occasionally.
IDENTIFYING WHOLE GRAINS
 Don’t be fooled by “whole grain wanna-be’s”!
Multigrain
Wheat
Stoneground
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Look for:
100% whole grain
A whole grain listed first in the ingredient list
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Oats/Oatmeal, Whole Wheat, Whole Rye/Rye Berries,
Brown Rice, Whole [name of grain]
DISCUSSION
How would you makeover these breakfast and
snack items to incorporate whole grains?
 Muffins
 Frosted flakes
 Breakfast cereal
bar
 Cookies
 Pop-Tart
 Chips
BEVERAGES
 Water is the best choice for thirsty children.
Model good habits for the children by
choosing water first.
 Soda and fruit drinks are full of sugar and
“empty calories” (few nutrients, many
calories).
 Serving skim or 1% milk with meals and
snacks provides calcium, vitamin D, and
protein without many calories.
BEVERAGE MYTHS
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Myth 1: Whole milk is best for all kids
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Under age 1: breast milk or formula
Ages 1 to 2: Whole milk
Over age 2: skim or 1% milk
Myth 2: Juice is always the best option
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Whole fruits have more nutrients
Under age 6: a maximum of 4-6 oz.
per day of 100% juice
Not a good choice to quench thirst
MENUS AND VARIETY
 Serving a variety of foods helps
to meet a child’s nutrition
needs.
 Cycle menus of 3 weeks or
longer may help provide variety.
 Children may be more willing to try new foods
when they are served with familiar foods.
 Children may need to see a new food at least 10
times before they’ll actually try it.
Don’t give up!
FEEDING PRACTICES
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Gently encourage, but don’t force children to
try a bite of a new food.
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A child never does a “bad”
or good” job of eating
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Forcing children to clean
their plates can lead to
overeating and weight
problems.
FEEDING PRACTICES
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Offer healthy foods to children
and then let them decide if and
how much to eat.
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Make meal and snack time as
stress free as possible and try
to provide enough time to eat.
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Avoid using food to reward
good behavior or to make a
child feel better about
something.
DISCUSSION
These recommendations are great but how can
we put them into practice?
How can we help children avoid developing
unhealthy habits?
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Scenario #1: You notice that Jose is pushing
his food around on his plate, but isn’t really
eating anything.
Scenario #2: Maya has already had 2 servings
of bread and asks for another one.
Scenario # 3: Steven quickly eats his French
fries and asks for some more before having
eaten any of the other food on his plate.
FOODS OFFERED OUTSIDE OF REGULAR
MEALS AND SNACKS
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Ask parents to help celebrate
birthdays, and holidays with
healthier options than candy, cake,
and ice cream. Healthier treats like
fruit kabobs, yogurt popsicles, and
low-fat, whole grain muffins are
great alternatives.
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If your facility has fundraisers,
consider campaigns that involve
healthier foods or non-food items.
This sends a message that you care
about good health.
WHAT WOULD YOU DO?
Scenario #4: It’s Jimmy’s birthday and his
mom asks if she can bring in cupcakes.
SUPPORTING HEALTHY EATING
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If possible, serve meals family -style where
teachers join the children at the table.
Teachers can show that healthy eating is fun
by modeling healthy choices and helping to
create a pleasant social environment around
the table.
SUPPORTING HEALTHY EATING
 Soda machines and candy
bowls in your facility send
the message that these
things are OK, and make
it harder for staff and
children to choose
healthier options.
LET’S BRAINSTORM
What are some
ways we can model
healthy eating
during meal and
snack times?
Ideas?
PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER:
MY PLATE
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½ a Plate of Fruits &
Vegetables
Serve Lean Proteins
Make at least half the
grains you serve whole
grains
Serve low-fat dairy or
dairy alternatives
Sit down and enjoy
food family-style
FOOD PROGRAM GUIDELINES
 Guidelines may be confusing
 Talk to your CACFP
representative
 A variety of foods meet
guidelines, both healthy and
unhealthy choices
 NEW handbook for CACFP participating
providers on creating a healthier environment:
http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/nutrit
ionandwellness.html
THINGS TO REMEMBER
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Children will eat!
They are capable of regulating their
food intake.
They generally react negatively to new
foods, but will usually accept them with
time and experience.
Caregivers can either support or disrupt
children’s food acceptance and
regulation.
NUTRITION ACTIVITY
Child care providers are role
models for healthy habits.
How can you be a good role
model to the children you
care for?
NUTRITION EDUCATION FOR
CHILDREN, PARENTS, AND STAFF
 If children hear the same health messages from
parents and from child care providers, they’re
more likely to listen.
 Use your toolkit!
 There are several curricula available to help
staff incorporate nutrition education into lesson
plans.
 Look for opportunities to provide nutrition
education for staff and earn continuing
education credits at the same time.
CLASSROOM NUTRITION RESOURCES
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Sesame Street Healthy Habits for Life Curriculum
http://www.sesamestreet.org/cms_ ser vi ces/ser vi ces?acti on=downl
oad&uid=77960fa1 -69ad-47c9 -a5 4d -e98b95863f fa
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Early Sprouts: Cultivating Healthy Food Choices in Young
Children Curriculum http://www.earlysprouts.org /
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Color me Healthy Curriculum http://www.colormehealthy.com /
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Team Nutrition http://teamnutrition.usda.gov
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Farm to Preschool
http://www.farmtopreschool.org/
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USDA’s MyPlate for Preschoolers
http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers.html
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Exploring Food Together Toolkit
http://cookingmatter s.org/w hat -we-do/expl oring -food -together/
COOKING ACTIVITIES
FOR CHILDREN
Preschoolers can cook
and learn!!
What they can learn
What they can do
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Measure, stir, beat
Peel, cut, grate
Hot vs. cold
Compare quantities
Set the table
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Fine motor skills
Follow directions
Observing
Enhance social skills
Sorting, classifying
skills
NUTRITION POLICY
A written policy on food and nutrition:
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Tells parents and staff that these are
important issues and that you care about
the health of the children in your facility.
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Helps guide decisions and choices
your facility makes every day.
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Makes it easier to explain your
approach to parents and staff .
HOW TO MAKE A
HEALTHY LUNCH
What is the difference?
Healthy
 Baked, skinless chicken
breast
 Steamed carrots
 Fresh strawberries
 Whole wheat dinner roll
 Skim milk
Unhealthy
 Chicken nuggets
 Tator tots
 Canned fruit cocktail in
heavy syrup
 Slice of white bread
 Whole milk
NUTRITION ACTIVITY
What changes can you make in your classroom?
Write down 3 things you can change to either
help the children achieve one of the behaviors
below or to work on one of the strategies listed.
Eat at least five fruits and vegetables a day.
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Drink less sugar. Drink more water and low fat
milk.
Provide healthy choices for snacks and
celebrations; limit unhealthy choices.
Provide non-food rewards.
THANK YOU!
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