Nutrition Education: Young Children
The Two-Bite Club
USDA. Food and Nutrition Service. Team Nutrition.
This educational storybook was developed to introduce MyPlate to young children. Parents or caregivers read the book to children and encourage them to try foods from each food group by eating just two bites, just like the characters in the story. The back of the book contains a MyPlate coloring page, a blank certificate for the Two Bite Club, fun activity pages for kids, and Tips for Growing Healthy Eaters.
Nutrition Education for Early Childhood (PDF | 1.52 MB)Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction.
This resource provides three activities for use in early childhood settings. Each lesson includes information about corresponding Content Standards and Performance Standards, as well as a summary and key concepts.
Grow It, Try It, Like It! Preschool Fun with Fruits and VegetablesUSDA. FNS. Team Nutrition.
This garden-themed nutrition education kit for child care center staff introduces children to three fruits and three vegetables. Each set of lessons in the six booklets contain: hands-on activities, planting activities, and nutrition education activities that introduce MyPyramid for Preschoolers.
Nibbles for Health: Nutrition Newsletters for Parents of Young ChildrenUSDA. FNS. Team Nutrition.
Provides sharing sessions and newsletters for child care staff and parents of young children.
MODEL Health! Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity in Children (PDF | 1.70 MB)Maryland State Department of Education; 2009.
A collection of lessons on nutrition and physical activity with an emphasis on role modeling. Intended as a teacher resource in the early childhood classroom; most appropriate for use with children ages three to five.
Food and Nutrition Fun for Preschoolers (PDF | 133 KB)USDA. NAL. Food and Nutrition Information Center.
Collection of resources containing articles from professional journals, consumer education materials, and information available online.
Team Nutrition Fruit and Vegetable Lessons for Preschool ChildrenNorth Dakota Department of Public Instruction.
This curriculum is designed for anyone wanting to encourage preschool children to develop healthy eating and physical activity habits.
Michigan Team Nutrition: Preschool Booklist (PDF | 1.21 MB)Michigan State University Extension; Michigan Department of Education.
An annotated list of over 250 books about food, nutrition, healthy eating and physical activity for young children
More Than Mud PiesNational Food Service Management Institute.
These 54 lessons built around the seasons of the year each include activities to learn about growth, nutrition, and preparation of foods.
Power Panther Preschool Implementation GuideKansas Department of Education.
Power Panther Preschool is an eight-lesson health education program for Kansas preschool age children enrolled in centers and homes that participate in CACFP. Power Panther Preschool encourages consumption of fruits and vegetables and increased physical activity among young children.
Eat Well Play Hard in Child Care SettingsNew York State Department of Health; 2008.
This ten-module curriculum is intended for use by individuals with a background in nutrition education. Each module was designed for three- and four-year olds and their parents.
Setting the Stage: Nutrition and Physical Activity Lessons For Early Childhood Settings (PDF | 519 KB)Team Nutrition Iowa.
A compilation of resources to assist child care providers in following 12 policy statements that promote healthy eating and physical activity in their establishments. Includes cards with ideas for physical activity and games.
Physical Activities and Healthy Snacks for Young Children (PDF | 7.3 MB)Team Nutrition Iowa.
Set of cards developed for caregivers that give specific ideas for nearly 50 physical activities and healthy snacks.
Color Me HealthyNorth Carolina Cooperative Extension; North Carolina Division of Public Health.
Color Me Healthy is a program developed for 4 and 5 year olds on eating healthy and being active. It uses imagination, sight, sound, touch and taste to teach children.
Healthy Habits for Life Child Care Resource Kit (PDF | 8.1 MB)Sesame Workshop. Nemours Health and Prevention Services.
Offers a variety of physical activity lessons designed to fit in with existing routines in the child care setting, as well as suggestions for families to continue healthy habits at home.