Early Childhood Nutrition
The Early Childhood Nutrition Program is designed to educate parents and family members on the importance of healthy beginnings. This will walk through their baby’s nutrition stages and beyond starting with a healthy pregnancy for the mother. The program continues with mother making healthy nutrition choices during breast feeding, introduction of solid foods, and continues through the toddler stages and up to ten years of age.
Early Childhood Nutrition Program provides the following curriculums:
- Pregnancy Nutrition
- Breast Feeding Nutrition
- Infant Nutrition 6 – 12 Months
- Toddler Nutrition 2– 5 Years
- Family Chef 6 – 10 Years
The Program Goal is:
- Provide nutrition education in all stages of children from 6 months to 10 years of age
- Provide nutrition education and awareness to mothers who are pregnant or breast feeding
- Promote healthy eating habits and breaking old society beliefs on eating
- Create positive environments with children and family around the table
- Promote positive relationships with food
- Reduce risk of diabetes and other diseases
Program Activities Include:
- Nutritional education
- Nutritional supplies provided for each curriculum
- Pretest before class and posttest after attending class
Classes will cover a number of topics. We hope to provide nutritional information which can be beneficial for family and their child/children. Curriculum Topics include:
Curriculum Topics:
- Healthy weight gain/eating & drinking
- Special nutrition needs for pregnancy
- Moring sickness/heartburn & acid reflux
- Teas during pregnancy
- Gestational diabetes
- Food cravings
- Food & drinks to avoid
- Milk production foods & drinks
- Prevent postpartum depression
- Why wait to introduce solid foods
- Cues to introduce solids
- When to introduce finger foods
- Portion sizes
- Vegan & vegetarian nutrition
- Allergies and safety
- Milestones
- Unhealthy eating/healthy eating
- Foods to avoid
- Picky eaters
- Juice recommendations/promoting water
- Healthy fats are good for you
- Healthy snacks
- Positive environment/building families
- Childhood obesity
- Mindful eating
If you are interested in the Early Childhood Nutrition Program, or know a family member/friend with a baby and may be interested in the program, please call our office for class dates.