Preschool and Young Children
Nutrition education is an important way to encourage healthy eating, build good lifelong habits, and combat our State, and our country’s, childhood obesity epidemic. Ideally, Nutrition Education should link what children are eating at school and in out-of-school time programming, with what they are learning about in the classroom.
Best practice Nutrition Education links research, theory and practice; and focuses on behavior change. Below is a list of high quality nutrition education resources that have been reviewed and recommended by a State team of experts. This is not an all-inclusive list, but includes many of the best free and low-cost Nutrition Education resources offered in Michigan and nationally. Use these resources to provide and improve Nutrition Education and to create an implementation plan for the Nutrition Education portion of your local Wellness Policy.
-
Grow it, Try It, Like It!
Format: PDF
Audience: Preschool and Kindergarten
Cost: Free
A garden-themed nutrition education kit for child care center staff that introduces children to: three fruits - peaches, strawberries, and cantaloupe, and three vegetables - spinach, sweet potatoes, and crookneck squash.Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/grow-it-try-it-it
Or upon request from Team Nutrition- Team Nutrition offers materials for free to schools and child care centers that participate in Federal Child Nutrition Programs.
Tags:
-
MyPlate Materials (young child focused)
Format: Multiple formats
Audience: Preschool and Young Children
Cost: Free
Helps preschoolers eat well, be active, and be healthy. This section of the MyPlate website is for parents and caregivers of children 2 through 5 years of age. It contains fact sheets, recipes, sample food plans and more.Available at: http://www.choosemyplate.gov/preschoolers.html
Tags:
-
Nibbles for Health Newsletters for Parents of Young Children
Format: PDF
Audience: Parents of Preschoolers and Young Children
Cost: Free
Reproducible newsletters that staff can give to parents and caregivers to address many of the challenges they face when trying to feed and nurture healthy, active children. Over 20 newsletters available with topics like family meals, picky eaters, snacks, cooking together, and more!Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/nibbles-health-nutrition-newsletters-parents-young-children
Tags:
-
Three Ring Food Circus
Format: PDF and print copies
Audience: Preschool and Young Children
Cost: Free
Twenty one super-fun activities for preschoolers and young children. Topics covered include MyPlate, recognizing and trying news foods, the senses, and eating lots of different kind and colors of foods. Healthy recipes and snack ideas, with colorful photos included.Call the United Dairy Industry of Michigan at 800-241-MILK to order print copies (available while supplies last).
Available at: http://www.milkmeansmore.org/3-ring-food-circus
Tags:
-
The Two Bite Club
Format: PDF and print copies
Audience: Preschool and Young Children
Cost: Free
A storybook to introduce MyPlate to young children. Children are encouraged 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. The Two Bite Club is available in English and SpanishAvailable at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/two-bite-club
Or upon request from Team Nutrition - Team Nutrition offers materials for free to schools and child care centers that participate in Federal Child Nutrition Programs.
Tags:
-
We Like to Eat Book Series
Format: Paperback Books
Audience: PreK to Grade 5, Families
Cost: $$- For pricing and ordering, contact resources@michiganfitness.org
The We Like to Eat!TM book series engage children and their families to learn about the food groups with a focus on fruits and vegetables that include tips for gardening, harvesting, preparing, and eating fruits and vegetables. Two of the books are bilingual with English and Spanish text and contain recipes, recipe cards, and activities.
Available at: Review a sample or order at www.michiganfitness.org.
Tags:
-
Milk: From Farm to Table
Format: PDF
Audience: K-2
Cost: Free
Follow 'Milk: From Farm to Table' with this fun coloring book which highlights the journey of Michigan's milk from the cow to the table.
Available at: http://www.milkmeansmore.org/schools/nutrition-education/grades-k-2-resources
Tags:
-
Snack Stars
Format: Multiple
Audience: Grades K-2
Cost: Free
Blast off to healthy snacking! Six “snactivities” that teach and encourage young children to choose and eat healthy snacks. Healthy snack recipes and a chart that connects the snactivities to the Common core are included.
Call the United Dairy Industry of Michigan at 800-241-MILK to order print copies (available while supplies last).
Available at: www.milkmeansmore.org/schools
Tags:
-
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Format: Multiple
Audience: Child care providers
Cost: Free
Child care providers can create healthier environments for the children in their care with this collection of 15 tip sheets that are packed with practical nutrition information, serving suggestions, food safety tips, ideas to get kids moving, and more!
Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/nutrition-wellness-tips-young-children
Tags:
-
Team Nutrition MyPlate eBooks
Format: Multiple
Audience: Parents, Teachers
Cost: Free
A collection of eight Discover MyPlate and The Two Bite Club ebooks for students in grades preschool – kindergarten.
Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/myplate-ebooks
Tags:
-
Nutrition and Wellness Tips for Young Children
Format: PDF and online
Audience: Childcare Providers, Parents
Cost: Free
A collection of colorful, easy-to-read tips sheets that incorporate key nutrition and physical activity recommendations with ideas for how to incorporate them.
Available at: http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/nutrition-wellness-tips-young-children
Or upon request from Team Nutrition - Team Nutrition offers materials for free to schools and child care centers that participate in Federal Child Nutrition Programs.