2026 Nutrition Education

The All4Kids program engages preschool-aged children in fun, hands-on activities that promote healthy eating, physical activity and positive body image. Through interactive lessons, music and dance, they develop nutrition knowledge, move their bodies and learn to appreciate their unique selves. Identify strategies for integrating nutrition, movement and self-esteem education in early childhood settings.

Menu planning is more than just demonstrating CACFP meal pattern compliance, it’s a budgeting tool to control costs and efficiency. Learn practical methods to calculate food costs and share purchasing strategies that save money without sacrificing quality. Gain tips for making cost-effective swaps and reviewing menus for maximum value. 

How can nutrition education meaningfully engage parents navigating complex systems, like foster or resource parents, system-involved fathers, or mothers in transitional housing? Explore shared strategies for trust-building, trauma-informed facilitation and developmentally responsive feeding that reconnect families through food.

If you’ve always wanted to introduce nutrition education to the children you serve, but felt overwhelmed by too many resources, you’re not alone. Level up your efforts with Power Up Your Program, developed with support from USDA’s FY23 Team Nutrition Grant. Learn practical strategies and tools for launching program enhancements that engage participants and boost support for your program.

Learn to create positive and supportive mealtimes that help children develop healthy relationships with food. Discuss the benefits of maintaining the division of responsibility in feeding in child care settings and how to grow confident and adventurous eaters through supportive language, modeling and consistency. Help even the most reluctant eaters grow into competent eaters who enjoy a variety of foods!

Learn how to create and cultivate connections with staff, children and families through nutrition and food-based fun! From simple “Guess What’s In The Bag” activities to more in-depth classroom and take-home cooking projects, get inspired with ideas on how to build meaningful relationships and bonding experiences through food.

From simple ingredient swaps to fully plant-based offerings, learn how to craft meals that are both nutritious and delicious, without increasing complexity. Learn to communicate these changes with children, staff and families to build excitement and support. Whether starting out or expanding plant-based offerings, prepare to create meaningful, lasting change in your program!

Nutrition in early childhood fuels more than growth. It builds brains, supports learning and shapes behavior. Explore how CACFP-aligned meals and snacks can strengthen child development. Learn practical strategies for menu planning, boosting classroom success and getting families excited about healthy eating.

Ignite a love for STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts & Math) through cooking! Discover fun, hands-on ways to teach kids how to measure, explore food science, use kitchen tools and express creativity with food. Perfect for CACFP providers and educators looking to inspire curiosity and critical thinking.