Books provide opportunities for children to read about food and build experiences to encourage healthy food choices. Select story books that promote the USDA Dietary Guidelines and the new MyPlate. When choosing books, select ones that have colorful illustrations of healthy foods. Involve children while reading, and identify foods, colors, tastes, celebrations, food groups, healthy choices. etc. Recommended books include:
- Grains: Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris
- The Little Red Hen by Margo Zemach
- Vegetables: Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
- Oliver’s Vegetables by Vivian French
- Fruits: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z by Lois Ehlert
- Oliver’s Fruit Salad by Vivian French
- Milk: Milk from Cow to Carton by Aliki
- Cow by Jules Older.
Don't forget to include a discussion of making food choices as you sit down with children to eat! In child care, reading about food choices and then passing out candies and doughnuts as rewards is sending mixed messages. Don't just read about healthy food choices . . . practice them with children!
For more ways child care providers can encourage children to make healthy food choices, check out the eXtension Alliance for Better Child Care article on helping children learn healthy eating habits.
