Building Healthy Habits: Supporting Nutrition in Early Childhood Education

A positive relationship with nutritious food encourages young children to engage in healthy eating habits that support their ongoing learning, growth, and development. As early learning professionals, we can most effectively support children’s healthy food choices in partnership with their families and parents. This article describes the impact of wholesome foods on children’s physical and cognitive development, and offers practical strategies to share with parents so they can encourage their child’s healthy eating habits.

Why Nutrition Matters in the Early Years

Nutrition plays an important role in young children’s growth and development. During early childhood, the foods that children eat impact, not just their physical health, but also their ability to focus, learn, build friendships, and more.

An article written for agencies distributing the federal grant program, Supplemental Nutrition for Women, Infants, & Children (WIC), points to the preventative benefits of early nutrition: “Proper nutrition during the first five years of life is crucial for a child’s growth, brain development, and overall health. This is a period of rapid physical and cognitive development, making it essential to provide children with the right nutrients to set the foundation for a healthy future. Poor nutrition in early childhood can lead to serious health problems, including stunted growth, weakened immune systems, and learning difficulties.” 

Research indicates that the quality of a child’s early diet may also be a predictor for later academic success. One research study found that more frequent consumption of fruits, vegetables, and healthy dairy at ages one, two, and three, contributed to higher scores in mathematics, reading, writing, and spelling during elementary and middle school. 

Nutrition Recommendations for Early Childhood

Understanding nutrition guidelines can help early care & learning providers to support the healthy physical and cognitive development of infants, toddlers, and young children. While many families provide the food that their children eat during the time they are in our care, we can support families by understanding and sharing information about healthy food recommendations for young children. For early learning programs that provide snacks and meals, knowledge about nutritional recommendations can help us make informed choices about the types of foods we offer to little ones.

Healthy Children, a website from the American Academy of Pediatrics, shares information about a variety of aspects of wellness for children by age group. Below are their nutrition recommendations for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers: 

Babies

• Focus on milk. During infancy, nutrition is almost all about milk (either breast milk, formula, or a combination of the two, depending on the family’s needs and preferences). Breast milk or formula will provide practically every nutrient a baby needs during the first year of life.
• Introduce solids. Around six months, most babies are ready to start solid foods like iron-fortified infant cereal and strained fruits, vegetables, and pureed meats. 
• Incorporate healthy fats. Once infants have started eating solids, including a healthy amount of fat is important for brain and nerve development.

Toddlers & Preschoolers

• Prioritize calcium. Calcium is the body’s building block for developing strong, healthy bones and teeth. Healthy calcium is provided by milk, as well as by lactose-free milk, soy milk, tofu, sardines, and calcium-fortified orange juices, cereals, waffles, and oatmeal. 
• Focus on fiber. During early childhood, encourage children to eat fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans, all of which provide fiber to support healthy digestion and development. 
• Offer variety. It is recommended that children consume a variety of foods from the five major food groups: vegetables, fruits, grains (such as bread, cereal, or pasta), protein foods (such as cooked lean meat, poultry, fish, cooked dry beans, egg), and dairy products (such as low-fat milk or yogurt and natural cheese). 
• Don’t worry about changes in appetite. Because toddlers and preschoolers grow in spurts, their appetites can sometimes be inconsistent. They may eat a lot one day and then hardly anything the next. As long as they are offered a healthy selection, they will get what they need. 

How ECE Professionals Can Promote Healthy Habits

Early learning educators and care providers have a unique opportunity to promote healthy eating habits in their classrooms and programs. Through daily routines and interactions with little ones, ECE professionals can help children develop a positive relationship with food in an engaging and meaningful way.

1. Model healthy eating

Children learn so much from watching the adults in their lives! Educators can play an important role by modeling healthy habits for young children. At snack time, you might sit down with children and encourage them to eat some fruits and vegetables alongside you. You can also talk with them about the kinds of healthy foods you enjoy eating, and ask them about their favorite foods. When children see their caregivers curious and excited about eating healthy foods, it can help inspire them to join in! 

2. Make mealtimes fun

For young children, mealtimes are an opportunity to try new things and to experience being part of a community. Make mealtime enjoyable by encouraging children to connect with their peers and talk with each other about the different kinds of foods they are trying.

You can introduce enjoyable activities into mealtime routines, such as playing music in the background while children eat, or bringing snacks outside to enjoy on a blanket for a picnic! Making lunch and snack time exciting and enjoyable helps children develop a positive relationship with mealtime, supported by happy memories around food and eating.

3. Involve children in food-related routines & activities

When children are involved in activities related to food and mealtime preparation, they are more likely to be interested in eating the food they are served during mealtimes. 

• Setting the table: Educators can engage little ones in mealtime preparation by asking them to pass out plates and napkins, or even to help serve the food. 
• Making recipes together: Cooking together is a great classroom activity and a fun way to get little ones involved in learning about food. Check out these G2K articles from the archives to find simple, child-friendly, nutritious recipes to try out in your classroom or program. 
• Planting fruits and vegetables: We can also involve children in growing the healthy food they enjoy together! Invite the children to help you plant simple fruits or vegetables, and then show them how to care for the plants. When children get to take part in caring for their produce as it grows from seed to fruit, they not only become more knowledgeable about the food they eat, but they also develop a sense of curiosity, interest, and excitement about giving the food a try! This tip sheet from the Natural Learning Initiative has some great suggestions and steps to take to get started growing fruits and vegetables in early learning programs. 

4. Partner with Families

When it comes to food and nutrition, early care & learning providers can be most effective when they work in partnership with families. Educators who learn from families about their child’s food preferences at home and their family’s mealtime routines, are in a better position to incorporate favorite foods and familiar routines into their classroom mealtime planning. Partnerships are particularly beneficial when they flow both ways, with educators sharing ideas and resources and families offering insight into cultural food traditions and family practices around food. Consistency and cooperation between home and school is a great way to reinforce healthy habits. 

To help you build connections with families around healthy eating and nutrition, you might enjoy the following resources:

• NAEYC’s Message in a Backpack- Supporting Healthy Eating Habits: This printable resource was created to be sent home with children as a resource for families. It includes simple, actionable tips from child nutrition expert, Monica Griffin, for encouraging children to eat their vegetables. 
• ZERO TO THREE’s Healthy from the Start: This guide offers parents information about the way that feeding skills unfold over the first three years. It describes feeding as being about much more than food—it is a chance to bond with children and nurture their social-emotional skills. The free guide also provides strategies for dealing with “picky eaters”.
• Healthy Eating Tip Sheets from MyPlate: MyPlate, a service provided by the US Department of Agriculture, has a variety of tip sheets available for families with infants, toddlers, or preschoolers. They include information about healthy foods, mealtime strategies, and important safety tips.