Catalog: Child Care Pre K (D-G) - Nutrition and Nourishment Collective

Caring for children, especially those with special needs, comes with its own unique set of challenges, particularly when it comes to nutrition. From understanding the importance of food textures to mastering effective feeding techniques, it’s crucial that caregivers and nutrition professionals are well-equipped with the right knowledge and resources. Below is a curated list of training materials, books, and resources designed to support caregivers, educators, and nutritionists in providing optimal care and nutrition to children, including those with special needs.

Dimensions in Food Textures, Preparation & Feeding Techniques for Special Needs Children

This comprehensive training program, designed for Child Nutrition Program personnel, consists of four 30-minute videos and a 14-page guidebook.

Part 1 provides an overview of related laws, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), various handicapping conditions, and special dietary requirements.
Part 2 offers instruction on food production techniques tailored for children with special needs.
Part 3 covers feeding techniques that ensure safe and effective meal times.
Part 4 focuses on behavioral management strategies to create positive and supportive mealtime experiences.

Audience: Food Service Personnel, Child Care Providers/Sponsors

Format: 4 videos (30 minutes each) + Guidebook

The Doorbell Rang

Each time the doorbell rings, more people arrive to enjoy Ma’s delicious cookies, making this a delightful introduction to the concept of division. A fun, engaging way for children to practice sharing and early math skills.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Early Elementary, Parents, Preschool Teachers

Format: 24-page book

Eatin’ to the Beat

This lively cassette features seven songs that encourage children to eat a variety of foods, particularly fruits, vegetables, and grains. The songs also promote mannerly eating, physical activity, and smart food choices.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Preschool Teachers, Parents

Format: Cassette Tape

Eating the Alphabet

A beautifully illustrated alphabet book that showcases fruits and vegetables through watercolor art. Children will not only learn the alphabet but will also explore different colors and the names of fruits and vegetables. Ideal for daycares, preschools, and elementary schools.

Audience: Early Elementary, Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Health Clinics, Preschool Teachers

Format: 32-page book

Ellyn Satter’s Montana Feeding Relationship Training Package

This training package offers comprehensive staff training on feeding children and preventing feeding issues. It clearly defines the role and limits of nutrition programs in health supervision, prevention, and screening.

Audience: Health Professionals

Format: Five Videos + Teacher’s Guidebook

Everybody Cooks Rice

Follow a young girl as she visits various homes in search of her brother and learns how different cultures prepare rice. This multicultural tale comes with recipes from Barbados, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, and Italy.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Early Elementary, Parents, Preschool Teachers

Format: 32-page book

Everyday Learning: Hands-On Activities for Preschoolers

This video demonstrates how to integrate nutrition education into daily activities at a daycare center. It includes cooking, shopping, and teaching about the Food Guide Pyramid through stories, games, and puzzles. An accompanying activity book provides additional resources for child care providers and preschool teachers.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Parents, Preschool Teachers

Format: 18-minute video + 287-page activity book

Exploring Foods With Young Children: A Recipe for Nutrition Education

An 85-page manual designed for preschool and early elementary teachers to incorporate nutrition education into their curriculum. It includes letters to parents in Spanish and Creole to involve families in the child’s nutrition education.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Early Elementary, Head Start, Preschool Teachers

Format: 85-page Teacher’s Manual

Exploring Healthy Eating: Activities for Parents and Children Together

Prepared by the Center on Hunger, Poverty, and Nutrition Policy, Tufts University

This resource helps parents understand the role of nutrition in their child’s cognitive development. It provides easy-to-read tips and activities that parents and children can do together, especially aimed at families with limited resources.

Audience: Parents, Child Care Providers, Sponsors, WIC Nutritionists

Format: Six Units

Family Pictures: Cuadros de Familia

A bilingual picture book that tells stories of a Mexican-American family, with several stories focusing on food traditions like making tamales, eating tacos, and preparing rabbit. Perfect for introducing cultural heritage through food.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Early Elementary, Parents, Preschool Teachers

Format: 32-page book

Feast for 10

This playful counting book follows a family as they shop and prepare a feast for 10 people. Children will learn counting and cooperation as they help with shopping and meal preparation.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Early Elementary

Format: 32-page book

Feeding a Toddler: Lily Gets Her Money’s Worth

This 15-minute video offers practical advice for feeding toddlers on a budget without compromising nutrition. It covers food preparation, smart grocery shopping, and meal planning, while also addressing important topics like preventing tooth decay and teaching toddlers to use utensils.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Parents, Health Clinics, General Adult

Format: 15-minute video

Feeding Children Well: A Pyramid for Preschoolers

This video is a valuable resource for child care providers and parents, teaching how the Food Guide Pyramid applies to young children’s diets. It provides practical tips and examples of healthy meals for preschoolers.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Parents, Preschool Teachers

Format: 17-minute video

First Foods: Lily Feeds Her Baby

Narrated by a young mother, this video explains the dietary needs of infants, the differences between breast milk and formula, and how to introduce solid foods. It also covers how to recognize allergic reactions and prepare foods properly for babies.

Audience: Child Care Providers, Sponsors, Parents, General Adult, Health Clinics

Format: 14-minute video

Gobble Up Math: Fun Activities to Complete and Eat for Kids in Grades K-3

This interactive book merges learning with tasty fun. Children use foods like raisins, pasta, and cereal to explore mathematical concepts, including patterns, geometry, measurement, fractions, and estimation. As kids solve math problems, they get to eat the results! A unique way to engage kids in math through both hands-on and delicious activities.

Audience: Child care providers, sponsors, elementary school teachers

Format: 136 pages, Book

Gobble Up Science: Fun Activities to Complete and Eat for Kids in Grades 1-4

Filled with engaging experiments, this book inspires young scientists by using edible creations to learn about topics such as digestion, mixtures, crystals, and chemical reactions. Each activity challenges kids to think critically while making fun, science-based snacks they can eat afterward!

Audience: Child care providers, sponsors, elementary school teachers

Format: 136 pages, Book

Good Nutrition is Everybody’s Ball Game

This educational booklet follows B. Smart and friends as they teach young children the basics of healthy eating. It’s a great tool to help kids learn how to make wise food choices while reinforcing the importance of good nutrition.