Early Childhood - Connecticut State Department of Education

Nutrition And Health Chapter 11
Ideal Age For Learning
Good nutrition plays a significant role in maximizing
each child’s potential for success. Young children are
at the ideal age to start learning about healthy eating,
and opportunities for nutrition education and physical
activity abound in the early childhood classroom.
By providing healthy and safe foods daily, a variety of
nutrition education activities, and an environment that
reinforces positive nutrition messages and active play,
preschool programs can encourage young children to
develop eating and physical activity habits for a lifetime
of good health.
References
Connecticut State Board of Education. Connecticut’s
Preschool Curriculum Framework. Hartford, CT. Connecticut
State Board of Education, 1999 (with 2005
and 2006 reprints).
www.sde.ct.gov/sde/lib/sde/PDF/DEPS/Early/Preschool_Framework.pdf
Connecticut State Department of Education. Alternatives
to Food as Reward. Hartford, CT: Connecticut State Department
of Education, 2004 (revised 2007). Available
at: www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2626&q=320
754#Resources.
Connecticut State Department of Education. Healthy
Celebrations. Hartford, CT: Connecticut State Department
of Education, 2005 (revised 2007). Available at:
www.sde.ct.gov/sde/cwp/view.asp?a=2626&q=32075
4#Resources.
Ehlert, L. Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A
to Z. Orlando, FL: Harcourt, Brace & Co., 1989.
Graves D.; Suitor C. and Holt K., eds. Making Food
Healthy and Safe for Children: How to Meet the National
Health and Safety Performance Standards – Guidelines for
Out-of-Home Child Care Programs. National Center for
Education in Maternal and Child Health, 1997.
Hall, M. Take a Bite Out of Music, It’s Yummy! Westport,
CT: New England Association for the Education of
Young Children, 1983.
Palmer, M. and Edmonds, A. Vegetable Magic: A Preschool
and Kindergarten Nutrition Education Source Book,
Revised Edition. Storrs, CT: Connecticut State Department
of Education, Nutrition Education and Training
Program, 1993.
155
Position of the American Dietetic Association: Nutrition Standards
for Child-Care Programs. Cleveland, OH: Journal
of the American Dietetic Association; 1999:981-988.
Story M.; Holt K. and Sofka D., eds. Bright Futures in
Practice: Nutrition. Arlington, VA: National Center for
Education in Maternal and Child Health and Georgetown
University, 2002. Available at: www.brightfutures.org/nutrition/resources.html.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. Nibbles for Health: Nutrition
Newsletters for Parents of Young Children. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2002.
Available at: www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/nibbles.html.
U.S. Department of Agriculture and U.S. Department
of Health and Human Services. Dietary Guidelines for
Americans. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture
and U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services, 2005. Available at: www.usda.gov/cnpp/
Pubs/DG2000/Index.htm.
U.S. Department of Agriculture. MyPyramid. Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, 2005.
Available at: MyPyramid.gov
Tickle Your Appetite: Team Nutrition’s Education Kit for
Child Care. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, 1998.
Resources
Brieger, K. Cooking Up the Pyramid: An Early Childhood
Nutrition Curriculum. Pine Island, NY: Clinical
Nutrition Services, 1993.
Eliades, D. and Suitor, C. Celebrating Diversity:
Approaching Families Through Their Food. Arlington,
VA: National Center for Education in Maternal and
Child Health, 1994.
Exploring Foods with Young Children: A Recipe for Nutrition
Education, Revised Edition. Tallahassee, FL: State of
Florida, Department of State, 1992.
Food and Me: An Integrated Approach to Teaching Nutrition
(Teacher’s Kit Pre-K and Kindergarten). Washington,
DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture and Scholastic,
Inc., 1995.
French, V. Oliver’s Vegetables. New York: Orchard
Books, 1998.