1. Preschool Portions: good things can come in small packages KimberDebelak PUBH 6165-3 April 23, 2010

2. Objectives Increase opportunities to taste and try new foods Increase opportunities for hands on whole foods exposure Encourage healthy eating habits Teach healthy portion control Present role models who eat healthy Incorporate appropriate exercise Connect classroom to at home behaviors and activities

3. Timetables • Daily – snack and mealtimes • Include fruit or vegetable at each snack or meal • Reduce other food options • Weekly – new food presentation • Featured fruit or vegetable of the week • Tasting or cooking with featured food • Monthly – cooking activities and themes • Cooking class • Periodic – family activities and events • Offer recipes and guidelines • Encourage cooking and tasting as family activity Minnesota Department of Health. (2010). The LANA Preschool Program (Educational Guidelines). Retrieved from Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/chp/cdrr/nutrition/nutritioneducation/lana/index.html

4. New Foods • Choose a stable of fruits and vegetables • Pick 5 fruits and 5 vegetables for introduction over semester • Choose colorful “fun” foods • Recognize need for repetition • May need to present food up to 10-15 times before accepted • Use the 5 senses to teach nutritional information • What do they see, feel, hear, smell, and taste. • Have them keep a food diary • Simple journaling about their experience in form of picture

5. Hands on exposure • Allow them to wash and prepare the food item • Allow them to practice dexterity • Use plastic utensils to cut • Teach about portion size • Have them portion out servings • Practice sharing with classmates • Be prepared for likes and dislikes • Encourage them to at least try 1 bite, 5 chews and them discard • Ask for one positive comment from each child

6. Encourage healthy eating habits Present food groups Discuss what is “healthy” Why do we need to eat healthy foods What makes a healthy food Is there too much of a good thing? Healthy habits now will last a lifetime

7. Food Pyramid Online tool to estimate the caloric intake needed based on age and activity. www.mypyramid.gov Sample MyPyramid Plan Male -- Age: 3 -- Activity: more than 60 minutes/day Grain Group 5 ounces Vegetable Group 1 1/2 cups Fruit Group 1 1/2 cups Milk Group 2 cups Meat and Beans Group 4 ounces United States of Agriculture. (2010). My Pyramid. Retrieved from MyPyramid.gov: http://www.mypyramid.gov/

8. Portion Control • Compare too much vs. too little • Child’s portion should be 2/3 of adult portion • Average 1300 calories per day • Divided into 3 meals and 2-3 snacks • Sample project: • Have the children use a paper plate and draw the size portions that they should be eating (provide sample) • They can use this as a take home example to encourage correct portion sizes at home too Garden-Robinson, J., & Rommesmo, S. (2008). Now Serving: Nutritious Snacks for Preschoolers. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn1380.htm

9. Healthy Role Models • Lead discussion about: • What is “healthy” • Who is healthy • How can they be healthy • Have examples ready • Kermit the Frog vs. Miss Piggy • Cookie Monster vs. Grover

10. Exercise counts • Introduce physical activity • Emphasize that this is as important as what we eat • Exercise should be done daily • Lead discussion about what exercises they can do • Do some basic exercises such as running in place • Talk about their heart being a muscle that needs to exercise

11. From the classroom to the home campus • Take home lessons • Have fruits and vegetables in your home • Make fruits and vegetables a part of every meal • Engage your child in meal preparation • Encourage your child to try new foods at home • Lead by example and consume your daily allowance • Make dinnertime a family event without TV • Take a walk after dinner • Shop at the farmers market • Every moment can be a teaching opportunity

12. References Garden-Robinson, J., & Rommesmo, S. (2008). Now Serving: Nutritious Snacks for Preschoolers. Retrieved April 23, 2010, from http://www.ag.ndsu.edu/pubs/yf/foods/fn1380.htm Minnesota Department of Health. (2010). The LANA Preschool Program (Educational Guidelines). Retrieved from Minnesota Department of Health: http://www.health.state.mn.us/divs/hpcd/chp/cdrr/nutrition/nutritioneducation/lana/index.html United States of Agriculture. (2010). My Pyramid. Retrieved from MyPyramid.gov: http://www.mypyramid.gov/