The Preschool Initiative has been made possible through the generous support of the Claneil Foundation.The Claneil Foundation
works to create healthy communities by supporting nonprofit activities that fall within the following focus areas: Hunger & Nutrition/
Food System, Health and Human Services, Education and Environment.
The program is based on The Food Trusts successful Kindergarten Initiative, a comprehensive food and nutrition
education program that brings educators, parents and community members together to encourage young children
to make healthy food choices.
The Preschool Initiative was piloted in five preschool programs in Philadelphia from 2009 to 2010. The Food
Trust trained preschool center staff, provided nutrition education resources, conducted lessons and helped assess
center environments. Preschool administrators and teachers worked toward changes in their centers to encourage
healthy habits.
This toolkit is designed to be a resource for preschool teachers, teachers aides and preschool center administrators
interested in developing and providing a nutrition and physical activity program like the Preschool Initiative in their
centers. We offer key components and guidelines for success and encourage centers to tailor the program to their
own needs. Outside health and community organizations interested in nutrition and physical activity programming
may find the last section of the toolkit helpful.
Our sincere hope is that this toolkit will help create programs that preschool students look forward to every day
while helping them grow up healthy. Best of luck with this worthy endeavor!
Yael Lehmann
Executive Director
The Food Trust
VIV. Resources 24
Many preschools do not have a well- To facilitate the development of last- Since the diets of children tend to
developed food, nutrition and physical ing healthy behaviors, preschools can reflect larger household patterns, a
activity program. With half of all three- ensure that young children receive regular family approach to fostering healthy
and four-year-olds attending preschool, physical activity and nutritious foods. eating habits is the key to success5.
centers can be a major influence in Many preschoolers consume a substantial Preschool programming offers a significant
shaping the nutrition and physical activity proportion of their daily food intake in opportunity to connect with parents and
habits of children1. It is more crucial than centers. Reviewers of the newest Feed- caregivers to reinforce healthy behav-
ever to foster good nutrition and fitness ing Infants and Toddlers Study state that iors in children at this early age. In the
habits at an early age. In 2007-2008, two the greatest cause for concern is the large Preschool Initiative pilot, caregivers were
out of every ten children ages two to five proportion of young preschoolers who invited and encouraged to attend cooking
were obese or overweight; the prevalence consumed low-nutrient, energy dense lessons and join their preschooler on farm
of obesity and overweight in this age beverages, desserts, and snack foods4. field trips. As primary role models, care-
group has doubled in the last thirty years2. In other words, young children are givers are instrumental in fostering healthy
Teaching healthy habits at a young age consuming too many foods that are high choices and behaviors in children.
increases the likelihood that these behav- in sugar and unhealthy fats and low in
iors will take firm root and last a lifetime3. nutrients. For more nutrition
information see CD section I.
It is important to review your centers Nutrition and Physical Activity Self- easily visible and available for children,
current policies and practices surround- Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) to larger environmental changes such as
ing nutrition and physical activity. Decide which allows you to see how well your center making a wide variety of fixed play equip-
what changes you would like to make and measures up against a list of suggested ment available. The center director or a
develop an action plan to help reach your best practices. The practices outlined in lead teacher should receive online NAP
goals. One tool for assessing and making NAP SACC range in complexity from SACC training in order to facilitate the
changes in your preschool center is the small ones such as making drinking water following process.
BALANCING CALORIES
Enjoy your food, but eat less.
Avoid oversized portions.
FOODS TO INCREASE
M
ake half your plate fruits and vegetables.
S witch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk.
FOODS TO REDUCE
C
ompare sodium in foods like soup, bread and frozen
mealsand choose the foods with lower numbers.
D
rink water instead of sugary drinks.
Making Healthy Changes: sugars, trans fats and sodium. The Child mended that all childcare programs, even
Food in Preschools and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) is those that do not participate in CACFP,
a federally-funded program based on the strive to meet the CACFP standards. For
Preschool centers that provide meals and
Dietary Guidelines that supports preschool more information on CACFP and guide-
snacks can ensure that children are offered
programs and children up through the age lines, which are currently being revised,
healthy foods throughout the day. The
of 18 by reimbursing high-quality nutritious please visit www.fns.usda.gov/cnd/care.
2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans
meals in low-income settings. The CACFP Make sure to check your states guidelines
recommend increasing the variety of fruits,
nutrition guidelines ensure that children are as well; some states have more extensive
vegetables and whole grains and decreas-
provided with nourishing meals that meet nutrition standards than CACFP.
ing foods that are high in solid fats, added
daily recommendations. It has been recom-
Keys to Successfully Teaching amounts of fruits and vegetables 7. Expos- early, are likely to continue through life,
Preschoolers about Health ing preschoolers to fruits and vegetables is and are difficult to change in adulthood,
an important part of preschool nutrition providing high quality food during the early
When developing your program, consider
education and will introduce children to years is of paramount importance for ones
these key strategies for teaching preschool-
new tastes and textures. Reviewers of the overall health 8. It is essential to be positive
ers about health:
Feeding Infant and Toddlers Study point and encouraging, but never force children
Focus on Fruits and Vegetables. out that adequate fruit and vegetable to try new foods. Allowing children to touch
Fewer than 50 percent of American intake are especially important, as diets and smell new foods including fruits and
preschool age children eat adequate rich in these foods have numerous health vegetables before they eat them makes the
benefits. Given that food preferences start foods less threatening.
Preschoolers as Chefs. In our pilot Teach Children about Health in Promoting Healthy Habits
program of the Preschool Initiative, pre- a Positive Environment. Presenting All Day Long: Adults as Role
schoolers became junior chefs. When healthy habits to preschoolers in an age-
Models
given the opportunity to prepare food, appropriate way that is fun and interactive
Preschoolers are more likely to embrace
children are more willing to try what they encourages children to associate healthy
health messages and adopt these habits if
may otherwise reject. Preparing simple habits with positive experiences. Singing
they see the adults in their lives demon-
recipes makes foods more exciting and songs, reading books, playing games and
strating these same healthy habits. The
appealing to young tasters. While trying helping with food preparation are all ways
NAP SACC evaluation tool (section II)
an apple and cabbage coleslaw that he had to create excitement around tasting healthy
can assist preschool programs in the de-
prepared in the Preschool Initiative, one foods. Creating these positive experiences
velopment of a positive environment that
child exclaimed, I didnt like cabbage, but in connection to healthy foods will make
includes healthy role modeling by teachers
I do now! Such discoveries prepare chil- children more likely to try new things and
as well as caregivers. Teachers are encour-
dren to be adventurous eaters and prime will help them embrace healthy habits to
aged to eat the same healthy foods that
them for a lifetime of healthy eating. continue throughout their lives 10.
students are served, join them in physical
Repetition, Repetition, Repetition. activity, and talk about healthy foods in
Repetition of simple health messages and a positive and encouraging way. For both
multiple exposures to foods prepared in a children and adults, new healthy habits are
variety of ways is another key to successful easier to stick with if everyone participates.
preschool nutrition education. Preschoolers
may need to be exposed to a food 8 to 15
times before the new food is accepted 9.
Experiential learning is essential for this In the Preschool Initiative pilot, nutrition staff conducted lessons in the pilot pro-
age group. When children are able to and physical activity lessons were a weekly gram, the lessons presented in this toolkit
experience healthy foods and participate occurrence in the classroom. The Food are easy for preschool teachers to teach on
in physical activities, they realize just how Trust staff and teachers alternated their own. Lessons and follow-up activities
enjoyable nutritious foods and physical teaching weekly lessons, with teachers meet Pennsylvania educational standards
activity can be. doing simple follow-up activities after and can be adapted as necessary to meet
each lesson. Although The Food Trust the standards in your state.
INGREDIENTS: 4 Tbsp low-fat whipped cream cheese, 2 whole wheat tortillas, tsp ranch seasoning mix,
cup broccoli, cup grated carrots, cup zucchini strips, tomato diced, 2 Tbsp yellow bell pepper
MATERIALS NEEDED: Cutting boards, plastic knives, plastic bowls, graters, sharp knife, colander
1. Have children help to chop, cut and grate the vegetables. Children can use plastic or butter knives
and grate with adult supervision.
2. Children can stir the cream cheese and ranch mix together and help spread on the tortilla.
4. Have an adult roll the tortilla tightly. With a sharp knife, have adult slice the wrap into circles.
Bringing Local Food into local cheese, salad greens with dressing If weekly local snacks are not possible,
the Classroom and a vegetable tray with low-fat dip. tasting new local foods a couple of times
Produce was ordered from a local farmers throughout the year would also be ben-
Using local food as part of your classroom
co-operative and was washed, cut-up and eficial. Before you bring food into the
snacks is a good way to reinforce the mes-
delivered by a local caterer. These weekly classrooms, make sure to communicate
sage that area farmers produce food that
snacks gave children the opportunity to all ingredients to teachers and parents in
is healthy to eat. Buying delicious, locally
try new foods in a positive, secure environ- advance of serving. Food allergies
grown food also supports local farmers
ment. For sample menu see CD and intolerances are not uncommon
and is environmentally friendly. Preschool
section V. and clear communication in writing
centers in the Preschool Initiative pilot
with verbal reminders is essential.
received snacks twice a week including
During the development of the Preschool to join in activities and lessons. By includ- Following several cooking lessons in
Initiative, parents and caregivers were ing parents in lessons, especially those that the Preschool Initiative pilot, children
invited to focus groups to discuss and help incorporate cooking with their preschooler, were sent home with a Read It and Eat It
shape the program. Giving parents and parents can share in the experience and bag to share with parents. This bag
caregivers a voice makes them invested see firsthand how excited their children contained the recipe that was prepared
and more likely to participate. Continue are about preparing and eating fruits in the classroom by the child, one of
to keep parents informed and invite them and vegetables. the main ingredients (fruit or vegetable)
When you decide to start a preschool food, You could even start a blog where you share preschool programs are beginning to edu-
nutrition and physical activity program, your successes with the online community. cate their students about living a healthy
share what you are doing with your com- You might be surprised by how interested life so join the movement!
munity by writing a short article for your people are in preschool nutrition and physi-
centers newsletter or local newspaper. cal activity education. All over the country,
Identifying Partners get started on their own. A first step would Identifying Resources for
When identifying preschool programs be to contact the center administrator to Program Implementation
with which to partner consider choosing gauge interest and support. Make sure that
Look to external sources for grants that
preschool centers in low-income neighbor- the center has committed, enthusiastic
will help fund some of the program costs.
hoods that might not have the resources to administrators and teachers, as they are
The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance
crucial to the success of the program.
2. Fox, Mary Kay et al. (2010). Food Consumption Patterns of Young Preschoolers: Are They Starting Off on the Right Path? Journal of
the American Dietetic Association.110: S52.
3. Contento, Isobel (2007). Nutrition Education: Linking Research, Theory and Practice. Massachusetts: Jones and Bartlett, page 440.
7. Guenther, P. M., Dodd, K. W., Reedy, J., & Krebs-Smith, S. (2006). Most Americans Eat Much Less than Recommended Amounts
of Fruits and Vegetables. Journal of the American Dietetic Association. 106, 9, 1371-1378.
9. American Academy of Pediatrics, American Public Health Association, and National Resource Center for Health and Safety in Child
Care and Early Education (2010). Preventing Childhood Obesity in Early Care and Education: Selected Standards from Caring for Our Children: Na-
tional Health and Safety Performance Standards; Guidelines for Early Care and Education Programs, 3rd Edition. www.nrckids.org
10. Satter, Ellyn (2007). Eating Competence: Nutrition Education with the Satter Eating Competence Model. Journal of Nutrition
Education Behavior. 39:S189-S194. See www.ellynsatter.com
Additional funding has been provided by the PA Department of Public Welfare (DPW) through the PA NUTRITION EDUCATION
TRACKS, an entity of The Pennsylvania State Universitys College of Health and Human Development, as part of USDAs
Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides nutrition assistance to people with low income. It can help you
buy nutritious foods for a better diet. To find out more, contact DPWs toll-free Helpline at 800-692-7462 or 215-430-0556. In accordance
with Federal law and USDA policy, this institution is prohibited from discriminating on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age,
religion, political beliefs or disability. To file a complaint of discrimination, write USDA, Director, Office of Civil Rights, 1400 Independence
Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20250-9410 or call (800) 795-3272 (voice) or (202) 720-6382 (TTY). USDA is an equal opportunity
provider and employer.
24 RESOURCES
The Food Trust: Ensuring That
Everyone Has Access to Affordable,
Nutritious Food
The Food Trust, a nonprofit founded in Philadelphia found that the agencys School Nutrition Policy Initiative
in 1992, strives to make healthy food available to all. resulted in a 50 percent reduction in the incidence of over-
Research has shown that lack of access to healthy food weight among Philadelphia school children.
has a profound impact on food choices and, therefore, a
profound impact on health. The Food Trust is recognized as a regional and national
leader in the prevention of childhood obesity and other diet-
For almost 20 years, The Food Trust has worked with neigh- related diseases for its notable initiatives to increase food
borhoods, schools, grocers, farmers and policymakers to access in underserved neighborhoods, including the Healthy
develop a comprehensive approach to improving the health Corner Store Initiative and the Pennsylvania Fresh Food
of Americas children. The Food Trusts innovative initiatives Financing Initiative.
integrate nutrition education with increased availability of
affordable, healthy foods. For more information visit www.thefoodtrust.org
or contact The Food Trust at 215-575-0444.
This approach has been shown to reduce the incidence
of childhood overweight; a study in the journal Pediatrics
One Penn Center
Suite 900
1617 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
p:215.575.0444 f:215.575.0466
www.thefoodtrust.org