Feeding kids can be a bit of a challenge, right? One moment, they’re rejecting anything green, and the next, they’re snacking on something you’ve never even heard of. As parents, teachers, and childcare providers, making sure kids eat healthy while keeping meals exciting and fun can feel like a juggling act. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered! Below is a carefully curated collection of books, videos, and resources aimed at not only sneaking in the good stuff (hello, veggies!) but also making mealtimes more enjoyable for everyone involved. From heart-healthy activities to hands-on cooking fun, this list has it all—making sure kids stay happy, healthy, and engaged.
Healthy Snacks for Kids
By Penny Warner | Bristol Publishing Enterprises, Inc. ©1996
This book adds excitement to snack and lunch times while helping to soothe cranky kids who are eager to eat. Warner presents clever strategies for incorporating nutrition into beloved dishes, such as mixing grated carrots into peanut butter or adding ground spinach to turkey burgers. She also recommends using engaging “props” like whimsical bowls and colorful straws to make meals more appealing, igniting children’s enthusiasm for food. Each recipe features a visual representation of the food pyramid to highlight the emphasized food groups.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, and parents looking to enhance nutritional value in meals.
Format:
171 pages | Book
Heart Power (Pre-K)
American Heart Association ©1996
This comprehensive supplemental program is designed to teach and inspire young children about heart-healthy behaviors. The kit includes various components that can be utilized in diverse ways, motivating children to learn and adopt habits that contribute to a lifetime of heart health.
Audience:
Pre-K and kindergarten educators, childcare providers, and sponsors.
Format:
Teacher resource book, activity cards, big book, audiocassette
Heart Power (K-2)
American Heart Association ©1996
Similar to the Pre-K version, this supplemental program caters to children in grades K-2, offering multiple components to engage students in heart-healthy practices. It aims to teach children to embrace lifestyles that support their heart health now and in the future.
Audience:
K-2 grade educators, childcare providers, and sponsors.
Format:
Teacher resource book, student books, big book, video
Heart Power (Pre-K – 1 Spanish)
American Heart Association ©1996
This Spanish version of the Heart Power program provides a comprehensive approach to teaching young children about heart health. It includes a variety of engaging resources designed to motivate children to learn and practice healthy behaviors.
Audience:
Pre-K to 1st-grade Spanish educators, childcare providers, and sponsors.
Format:
Teacher resource book, activity cards, big book in Spanish, audiocassette in Spanish
HomePlate
North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service ©1994
Designed for parents and children aged 5-8, HomePlate includes a collection of interactive activities, cooking tasks for parents and kids, newsletters for parents, and an engaging video. The video, inspired by the popular Nickelodeon style, utilizes the Food Guide Pyramid to help children make informed food choices. While the materials are created for parent-child use, they can be adapted for various settings.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, and elementary parents.
Format:
26-minute video and activities
How My Parents Learned To Eat
Houghton Mifflin Company ©1984 | Ina R. Friedman
This delightful story follows an American sailor and a young Japanese woman as they secretly try to understand each other’s eating customs. The book features vibrant illustrations that enhance the narrative.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, early elementary parents, preschool teachers.
Format:
30 pages | Book
How To Get Your Kid To Eat – But Not Too Much
Bull Publishing Company ©1987 | Ellyn Satter
A comprehensive guide for feeding children from newborns to teenagers. It covers topics such as normal eating patterns, preventing food-related conflicts, encouraging children to eat, weight management, eating disorders, and guidance for children with disabilities.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, parents, and health clinics.
Format:
396 pages | Book
How to Teach Nutrition to Kids: An Integrated Approach to Nutrition Education for Children Ages 6-10
24 Carrot Press ©1995 | Connie Liakos Evers
This resource offers a range of activities to teach basic nutrition concepts to children. It integrates nutrition into various subjects like language arts, math, science, social studies, performing arts, and physical education. It also includes ideas for making the Food Guide Pyramid and food labels engaging for kids. One chapter provides suggestions for turning school cafeterias into interactive nutrition education spaces.
Audience:
Early elementary parents, childcare providers, sponsors, and nutritionists.
Format:
189 pages | Book
How to Teach Nutrition to Kids: Leader/Activity Guide
24 Carrot Press ©1998 | Connie Liakos Evers
This leader/activity guide complements How to Teach Nutrition to Kids and includes background information on nutrition, tips for promoting positive food messages, and over 200 engaging activities to help implement these concepts.
Audience:
Early elementary parents, childcare providers, sponsors, and nutritionists.
Format:
63 pages | Book
I Need a Lunch Box
HarperTrophy ©1988 | Jeanette Franklin Caines
This charming tale follows a little boy who longs for a lunch box, even before he starts school.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, early elementary parents, preschool teachers.
Format:
32 pages | Book
Independent Study Course for Child Caregivers
University of Nebraska Cooperative Extension 1996 | Darlene Martin
This self-paced course helps Nebraska childcare providers earn training hours to meet annual in-service requirements. It offers eleven clock hours of training and is suitable for directors and staff in childcare centers as well as family childcare providers.
Audience:
Childcare sponsors and providers.
Format:
11-topic manual
Janey Junkfood’s Fresh Adventure!
Foodplay ©1995 | Barbara Storper
This entertaining show encourages children to break away from junk food habits. Set to a lively beat, “Treat Your Body Right,” the program teaches kids how to juggle food choices to achieve a balanced diet, featuring fun juggling and rap music.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, elementary physical education instructors, preschool teachers.
Format:
30-minute video and 28-page activity guide
The Kid’s Multicultural Cookbook: Food & Fun Around the World
Williamson Publishing Co. ©1995 | Deanna F. Cook
Designed for kids aged 4-10, this cookbook features over 50 multicultural recipes while introducing real children from around the globe. It offers an enriching international experience centered around food, complete with games, jokes, activities, and cultural traditions.
Audience:
Elementary childcare providers, sponsors, preschool teachers.
Format:
160 pages | Book
Kids Cook!: Fabulous Food For The Whole Family
Williamson Publishing Co. ©1992 | Sarah Williamson
This cookbook invites kids and their families to enjoy cooking together. It includes over 150 easy-to-follow recipes, along with nutrition notes, safety tips, and fun food trivia.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, and elementary families.
Format:
157 pages | Book
Kids’ Kitchen “No Cook” Video Kit
Foodplay Productions ©1996 | Barbara Storper
In this engaging video, “Tobe Fit-The Juggling Nutrition Magician” and a diverse group of children demonstrate how to prepare quick, nutritious snacks without cooking. The vibrant visuals and hands-on activities inspire kids to enjoy healthy foods.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, early elementary health clinics, Head Start programs, and preschool teachers.
Format:
50-minute video (six segments of 8-12 minutes each) and no-cook activity guidebook
Kitchen Fun for Kids
Center for Science in the Public Interest ©1997
This vibrant video counters unhealthy food advertisements, encouraging kids to cook healthy meals. Featuring a group of enthusiastic children creating a cooking show, the program includes fun original music while demonstrating healthy snack recipes like Banana Bread, Pita Pizzas, Orange Coolers, and Bean-and-Cheese Soft Tacos.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, elementary, and middle school educators.
Format:
24-minute video
Let’s Celebrate!: A World of Healthy Foods
West Virginia Department of Education ©1996
This resource offers classroom activities, recipes, and party ideas celebrating eight cultural regions worldwide. It effectively engages students, educators, food service staff, and parents in various nutrition education experiences adaptable for all age groups.
Audience:
Food service personnel, elementary and middle school teachers, parents, childcare providers, and sponsors.
Format:
169 pages | Book
Lily Feeds Her Growing Family
©1993
This book provides insights into meal planning for a large family on a busy schedule and budget. It emphasizes how to prepare meals based on the USDA Food Pyramid guidelines, along with specific recommendations to meet the nutritional needs of both adults and children.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, parents, health clinics, and general adult readers.
Format:
13-minute video
The Little Red Hen
New York, NY ©1973 | Paul Galdone
In this classic tale, the little red hen discovers that her lazy friends are unwilling to help her with tasks like planting, harvesting, or grinding wheat. However, they eagerly await the cake she bakes with the flour she produces.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, early elementary parents, preschool teachers.
Format:
38 pages | Book
Love in a Lunch Box: 101 Suggestions for Happier, Healthier Lunches
Beautiful America Publishing ©1994 | Carole Raymond
Packed with imaginative ideas, this book offers countless suggestions for creating appetizing and healthy lunches that kids will love. It’s a delightful way to express affection at lunchtime while ensuring nutrition.
Audience:
Childcare providers, sponsors, and parents.
Format:
84 pages | Book