Teaching Nutrition to Preschoolers – Messages With The Greatest Impact

Teaching nutrition to preschoolers plays a very important role in the development of lifelong eating habits. Early childhood educators are essential in this process. This course will provide early childhood educators with evidence based nutrition messages and learning objectives that are successful in increasing the knowledge base and understanding of nutrition concepts among preschool aged children. Incorporating these concepts also help to increase exposure to healthy foods, resulting in a potential increase in willingness to try new foods and decrease food neophobia. This helps to reduce mealtime struggles in the cafeteria. In addition, this training takes theory and turns it into practical application by providing classroom activity examples and suggestions on how to incorporate nutrition education informally through everyday activities.

Core Competencies: Health, Safety & Nutrition (8.2,4)
Licensing Standards: 746.1309 (f.2) Child Health & Nutrition

Dr. Jessica Barnes received her PhD in nutrition from Texas Woman’s University.  Her research focused on food preference development and creating materials to help preschoolers become familiar with healthy foods.  She has worked with families and communities as a clinical and community Registered Dietitian Nutritionist.

Trainer Criteria (a5) of Minimum Standard 746.1317