Here’s a collection of educational resources that focus on promoting healthy lifestyles, nutritious eating habits, and fitness activities for children. These materials are designed to engage young learners, caregivers, and educators through fun, interactive approaches. From cookbooks to fitness assessments and nutrition-based games, these tools aim to inspire children to make healthy choices while offering practical guidance for those who support them. Explore a variety of formats, including books, activity kits, flashcards, and videos, each carefully crafted to meet the needs of different audiences.
The ABSEF Physical Fitness Assessment
ABSEF: Fitness for Kids ©1993 Renae Buss
This engaging program offers an exciting way to spark children’s interest in both exercise and nutrition. Structured into 4-6 minute lessons, the ABSEF assessment focuses on educational rather than performance-based outcomes. It covers aerobic endurance, body composition, strength, and flexibility. The package includes two manuals for instructors or parents, a booklet of colorable handouts, five posters, five additional handouts, and 55 flashcards.
Audience: Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Early Elementary Students
Format: Two Instructor/Parent Manuals, Copy-Ready Coloring Handouts, Posters, 55 Flashcards
Adventures in Learning with the Food Guide Pyramid
Association for Child Development ©1995
Packed with lesson ideas, this book divides activities and games based on the Food Guide Pyramid, with a bonus chapter dedicated to healthy habits. Each section provides nutrition facts and food-related trivia for teachers. Children will stay busy and entertained while learning about good nutrition through songs, experiments, games, and hands-on activities.
Audience: Elementary Students, Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Preschool Teachers
Format: 109p. Book
The African-American Child’s Heritage Cookbook
Sandcastle Publishing ©1993 Vanessa Roberts Parham
This cookbook celebrates African-American heritage with over 200 recipes designed for children to make with adult supervision. It includes Southern, soul, and Caribbean dishes, healthier adaptations of traditional foods, and a special focus on African-American cultural celebrations. The book features safety tips, contributions from historical figures like George Washington Carver, and a glossary of cooking terms.
Audience: Elementary Students, Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Parents, Teachers
Format: 289p. Book
Am I Fat? : Helping Young Children Accept Differences in Body Size
ETR Associates ©1992 Joanne Ikeda
This guide helps teachers, parents, school nurses, and caregivers talk to young children about body size diversity, teasing, body image, and self-esteem. Targeting children up to age ten, the guide includes realistic case studies, classroom activities, and suggestions for physical activities to promote positive discussions around size and health.
Audience: Teachers, Parents, School Nurses, Child Care Providers/Sponsors
Format: 117p. Book
Barely Bear Learns About Good Nutrition: The Path to the Pyramid
National Food Service Management Institute ©1993 Beverly Cross
Follow Barely Bear and his food friends on a trip through the Food Guide Pyramid in this engaging 13-page storybook. The package also includes short videos, a Food Guide Pyramid poster, and an instructor’s guide for teaching nutrition to young children.
Audience: Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Early Elementary, Preschool Teachers
Format: 13p. Storybook, 6-Minute and 12-Minute Videos, Food Guide Pyramid Poster, Instructor’s Guide
Better Homes and Gardens New Junior Cookbook
Better Homes and Gardens Books ©1989 Gerald M. Knox : editor
This cookbook is designed for 8-12-year-olds, providing more than 50 kid-tested recipes that children can make on their own or with some cooking experience. All recipes were tested in the Better Homes and Gardens test kitchens, ensuring delicious results.
Audience: Elementary, Middle School, Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Parents
Format: 80p. Book
Better Homes and Gardens Step-By-Step Kids’ Cook Book
Better Homes and Gardens ©1984
A step-by-step guide for kids learning to cook, this book starts with simple recipes and progresses to more advanced ones. Each recipe is accompanied by photographs and easy-to-follow instructions, with helpful hints and measurement guides for young chefs.
Audience: Elementary Students, Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Parents
Format: 96p. Book
Betty Crocker’s Cooking with Kids
Macmillan, A Simon & Schuster Macmillan Company ©1995 Betty Crocker
This fun-filled cookbook offers a variety of kid-friendly recipes, including favorites like Homemade Granola Bars and Dinosaur Calzones. All recipes are easy to follow and have been tested by children in their own homes. Perfect for young chefs looking to explore the kitchen.
Audience: Elementary Students, Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Parents
Format: 176p. Book
Bread and Jam for Frances
HarperTrophy ©1993 Russell Hoban
Frances, a fussy eater, decides she only wants to eat bread and jam at every meal. Her parents, to her surprise, allow her wish until she learns a valuable lesson about variety in food. This book gently and amusingly makes its point about healthy eating habits.
Audience: Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Early Elementary, Parents, Preschool Teachers
Format: 31p. Book
Bread Bread Bread
Lothrop, Lee and Shepard ©1989 Ann Morris
This beautifully photographed book explores a variety of breads from around the world, showcasing the diversity of this staple food. Teachers can use the photograph index to learn more about the locales and types of bread depicted, adding depth to classroom discussions.
Audience: Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Early Elementary, Parents, Preschool Teachers
Format: 28p. Book
Breakfast Clubbies: Video and Activity Kit
Food Groupie, Inc ©1996
Featuring the popular Food Groupie puppets and Cathy Rigby, this health education kit helps children understand the importance of a healthy breakfast. The “Breakfast Clubbies” also encourage positive attitudes about health, teach cultural awareness, and promote basic skills. The included activities cover a wide range of subjects, from language and math to motor and social science skills.
Audience: Child Care Providers/Sponsors, Lower Elementary, Health Clinics, Preschool Teachers
Format: Four Short Videos (6-11 Minutes Each), Teacher’s Guide with 40 Activities, Reproducibles