2024 Nutrition Education

Nutrition plays a vital role in the development of a child and their individual cultural backgrounds make them who they are. Explore the importance of cultural awareness and discover ways to honor and celebrate the diverse food traditions of the children in your care.

Responsive feeding is an attentive way of feeding young children that includes watching for their hunger and satiety cues. Explore adult and child roles in the division of responsibility in feeding and its impact on children’s physical and mental development.

Changes to the recommendations for feeding infants have undergone a significant transformation. The latest guidelines encourage introducing solid foods, including common allergens, to babies starting as early as four to six months of age. Learn safe techniques for introducing allergens to infants and understand why postponing is no longer considered the best approach.

Allergies, intolerances, and sensitivities. What is the difference between the three? Learn how to navigate proper documentation, communication, and compliance to foster a safe environment for children with special dietary needs and requests.

Convincing children to eat nourishing foods can be challenging, but they need good nutrition to grow and stay healthy. Preparing foods with different methods can provide appealing flavors and textures making them more attractive to children. Learn how to create yummy and nutritious recipes that will encourage healthy eating.

Advocating for a child with food allergies is a team effort. Child nutrition professionals collaborate with families, children, and staff in navigating food allergies when serving meals in the CACFP. Learn techniques and best practices for building a positive partnership with children, parents, and staff in regards to food allergies.

Encourage your children to eat healthy foods by making mealtimes fun! Allowing children to be involved in food preparation and menu choices helps build healthy eating habits for the future. Learn how to use songs and games to actively engage children to make the healthy foods they eat, fun to eat.

If you serve it, will they come? In order to get children to eat fruits and vegetables, they need opportunities to engage with them before mealtime. Learn three easy, evidence-based techniques to introduce children to new veggies and the do’s and don’ts for high quality food education. Build your confidence in helping children discover their love of veggies.

Food is vital fuel for growing children—but how does it all work? How do you get kids to try new foods? Get a crash course in nutrition, exercise, and why what you eat matters. Level up your creditable meals with nutrient-dense food and how to make meal times interactive to encourage kids to try new foods. Be ready to get up, move around, and create meals with us!

Science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) concepts are important building blocks for lifelong critical thinking skills. The kitchen is a natural place for children to learn and explore these concepts in a safe and developmentally appropriate way. Learn simple steps to incorporate STEM into cooking and nutrition activities in child care programs.