Interested in Changing Your Child Care Facility’s

Nutrition and Physical Activity Environment?

The Maryland Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics is here to help!

We held several obesity prevention training workshops to help child care

facilities in Charles County improve their nutrition and physical activity

environment by changing policies and practices.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Books for

Child Care Providers and Families

Preschool Wellness Resources for

Child Care Providers and Families

MyPyramid for Preschoolers

Healthy Snacks for Kids

Preschool Nutrition Education

Good nutrition and plenty of physical activity are

key to a young child’s growth and development.

These behaviors begin early I life and are fostered

by the environment in which children live and

play. Because many children spend much of their

day in child care settings, these environments

are critical to the development of healthy

behaviors.

For more information please contact the Maryland Chapter,

American Academy of Pediatrics at:

410-828-9526 or via email at rachel@mdaap.org

Red Light, Green Light, GR W!

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Healthy Eating & Nutrition Feed Me! I’m Yours: Baby Food Made Easy! By Vicki Lansky An easy to follow step by step guide to cooking baby food, finger food, toddler snacks, seasonal recipes, birthday parties etc The Healthiest Kid in the Neighborhood: Ten ways to get your family on the right nutritional track by William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N., James Sears, M.D., and Robert Sears, M.D Childcare experts present a practical, appetizing, easy-to-follow eating plan for shaping children's tastes and metabolisms toward optimal health Toddler menus: A mix-and-match guide to healthy eating by Penny Preston The recipes in this book are simple, fast and nutritious The Sneaky Chef: simple strategies for hiding healthy foods in kid’s favorite meals by Missy Chase Lapine Lapine presents over 75 recipes that ingeniously disguise the most important superfoods inside kids’ favorite meals. With the addition of a few simple make-ahead purees or clever replacements, (some may surprise you!) parents can pack more fiber, vitamins, and antioxidants in their kids’ foods The Family Dinner: Great ways to connect with your kids, one meal at a time by Laurie David Mother of two girls, David presents a grab bag of child-friendly ideas from her trial-and-error experiments before and after divorcing actor Larry David: creative table settings; quick weekday meals and leftovers; cooking with kids; table games; reading selections and discussion topics; and ways for divorced parents to establish food traditions. Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert This alphabet book has vibrant, appetizing collage illustrations of fruits and vegetables. This is an example of the entertaining text: "Apple to Zucchini, come take a look. Start eating your way through this alphabet book." The book has a detailed glossary which includes pronunciation information for words such as jalapeno and kohlrabi. Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert This is truly a hands-on experience which children love. A recipe and directions for growing veggies are included. Read more about it at Amazon.com. The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day by Loreen Leedy. The clever illustrations and witty text help children enjoy learning about eating appropriate servings of a balanced diet. The menu at the Edible Pyramid Restaurant is based on the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture's food guide. The head waiter is a French cat in tails.

Nutrition and Physical Activity Books for Child Care Providers and Families

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The Amazing Milk Book by Paulette Bourgeois, Catherine Ross and Susan Wallace This book describe milk's chemistry, nutritional value, production and use as a component of cheese and other foods. It's enriched with anecdotes and humor.

The Beastly Feast by Bruce Goldstone At the great animal feast, bears bring pears and mosquitoes bring burritos.

Belly Laughs by Charles Keller These 75 food jokes and illustrations are written especially for children.

Blue’s Snack Party by Sarah Landy. Blue’s friends bring healthy snacks to a party. Discover each snack by lifting flaps that reveal ingredients, recipes and finished dishes.

A Book of Fruit by Barbara Hirsch Lember While most children recognize fruit in a bowl or in a supermarket, some have never seen fruit growing on a tree or a bush. This well-photographed book makes the connection between the fruit and where and how it grows before it arrives at the supermarket. Photos of single servings of fruit appear on pages opposite photos of where the fruit grows.

Bread, Bread, Bread by Ann Morris With large photographs, this book depicts the wide variety of breads from around the world. From India to Mexico, from Peru to Indonesia, from Ghana to Greece, international breads are shown.

Bread is for Eating by David and Phillis Gershator Mamita explains how bread is created and sings, "El Pan es Para Comer" ("Bread is for Eating"). Music and lyrics in both Spanish and English are included.

Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judy Barrett The townspeople love it when food falls from the sky -- until the food gets too big to swallow.

Dinner at the Panda Palace by Stephanie Calmenson Babies and toddlers see animals dining out at the Panda Palace.

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Dinosaurs Alive and Well; A Guide to Good Health by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown Colorful and bright dinosaurs provide kids with a blueprint to good health. Nutrition, exercise and fitness are some of the topics that are encountered.

Dumpling Soup by Jama Kim Rattigan A young Hawaiian girl tries to make dumplings for her family's New Year celebration. This story celebrates the joyful mix of food, customs and languages of many cultures.

D.W. the Picky Eater by Marc Brown Arthur the Aardvark's sister, D.W., is a picky eater. The family leaves her at home when they go out to eat until D.W. decides she might be missing something good by being so picky.

The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day by Loreen Leedy At the Edible Pyramid Restaurant, guests learn about all the foods they can eat from USDA's Food Guide Pyramid.

Everybody Cooks Rice by Norah Dooley Anthony is late for dinner. So his sister goes from house to house looking for him. In each home, she finds families preparing rice in a different way. This multicultural dinner tale ends with several recipes for rice -- from Barbados, Puerto Rico, Vietnam, India, China, Haiti, and Italy.

Extra Cheese, Please!: Mozzarella's Journey from Cow to Pizza by Cris Peterson This well-photographed book describes how cheese is made, from a Wisconsin dairy farm until a cheese factory ships the final product across America.

Foods: Feasts, Cooks, and Kitchens by Richard Tames This history of food discusses the types of foods and cooking method used by cultures from the hunters and gatherers of 18,000 B.C. to Egyptians, Greeks, Romans, Middle Ages and all the way to futuristic farming. It's filled with interesting illustrations and fascinating facts.

Grandpa's Garden Lunch by Judith Caseley Take a trip down to the garden with Sarah and her Grandpa and learn the basics of gardening. Kids will learn about how various foods grow. They will also see why "patience is a virtue."

Gregory, The Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat Gregory the goat likes eggs, vegetables, fruit and fish. But his parents want him to eat garbage!

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Group Soup by Barbara Brenner A selfish rabbit learns that sharing is the one ingredient needed to make the perfect Group Soup.

How to Make An Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman Since the supermarket is closed, the reader is led around the world -- to Italy, France, Sri Lanka, England, Jamaica and Vermont -- to gather the ingredients for making an apple pie.

I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Pie by Alison Jackson In this take-off of the song “I Know an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly,” a woman rudely eats everything at a Thanksgiving feast!

I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child Lola’s sister Charlie convinces her to eat fruits and vegetables. For example, Charlie calls mashed potatoes “cloud fluff from the pointiest peak of Mount Fuji.”

It’s a Spoon, Not a Shovel by Mark and Caralyn Buehner When a crocodile is eating an armadillo, should she put her napkin (a) on her head, (b) in her ear or (c) on her lap? This is a humorous etiquette book for young children.

Macho Nacho and Other Rhyming Riddles by Giulio Maestro This book is filled with rhyming riddles, many of which are riddles about foods.

Make Me a Peanut Butter Sandwich and a Glass of Milk by Ken Robbins This book describes the production of three foods: peanut butter, bread, and milk...from the farm to the manufacturing plant to the store to the home.

A Medieval Feast by Aliki A manor prepares a feast fit for a king and queen.

Milk From Cow To Carton by Aliki Aliki takes readers on a guided tour that begins with grazing cows, proceeds through milking and a trip to the dairy and ends with some different foods made from milk

Munching: Poems about Eating Selected by Lee Bennett Hopkins A collection of over 20 poems about food for children.

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Never Take a Pig to Lunch and Other Poems about the Fun of Eating Selected and illustrated by Nadine Bernard Westcott A collection of 50 poems and traditional rhymes about food and eating.

No Milk! by Jennifer Ericsson A city boy tries to coax, cajole, coerce, and command the milk out of a dairy cow — but no milk! As tempers flare, the pair finally arrives at a creamy compromise. Perfect for reading aloud.

Pass the Fritters, Critters by Cheryl Chapman. Should the bunny pass the honey? Should the parrot pass the carrots? Not without the magic word!

Peanut Butter, Apple Butter, Cinnamon Toast: Food Riddles for You to Guess by Argentina Palacios A book of food riddles for children.

Pizza! by Teresa Martino A brief history of pizza for beginning readers.

The Race Against Junk Food by Anthony Buono Tommy and the Snak Posse (which includes vegetable-people) win a footrace against junk food.

Roses Sing on New Snow by Paul Yee Set in turn of the century Chinatown, this is the story of a young girl who cooks in her father's restaurant. Although her father never gives Maylin credit for her great cooking, she works hard because she loves food and loves preparing meals for Chinese immigrants away from their families. When her father presents her new dish to the governor of South China, the truth comes out and Maylin is finally recognized as a very special cook.

A Spoon for Every Bite by Joe Hayes A poor Southwestern couple buys a third spoon so they can invite their baby’s godfather to dinner. Their rich guest brags about his numerous spoons, so the couple tells a story about someone who uses a new spoon for every bite. What they’re really referring to is a tortilla, but the rich man is fooled and buys spoons until he’s broke.

The Tawny, Scrawny Lion by Kathryn Jackson A rabbit avoids being eaten by a lion by serving him delicious carrot stew

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This Is The Way We Eat Our Lunch by Edith Baer and Steve Björkman Kids are taken around the world to learn about the various lunch preferences of children from different cultures. Colorful illustrations help make this adventure to various destinations extra special.

Too Many Tamales by Gary Soto While helping make tamales for Christmas dinner, Maria tries on her mother's ring. When she realizes the ring is missing, her cousins come to the rescue.

The Vegetable Show by Laura Krasny Brown Watch vegetables do a little vaudeville in their attempt to dance and sing their way onto the plates and into the hearts of kids. Kids will truly be tempted by the delightful characters including the Tip-Top Tomato Twins and Bud the Spud.

The Victory Garden Vegetable Alphabet Book by Jerry Pallotta and Bob Thomson This book depicts a vegetable for each letter of the alphabet. The art and text help students to make important associations between vegetables and other familiar things in the environment.

What Am I? Looking Through Shapes at Apples and Grapes by Diane and Leo Dillon Invite children to guess each food described in a rhyme and shown through a hole on the right-hand page. Turn the page for the answer!

What Food is This? by Rosmarie Hausherr Fish, sausage, carrots and many more foods are detailed in this tale of food origins. Kids can tune up their food trivia skills as they are quizzed with questions and pictures. This book is educational as well as fun for the whole family.

American Academy of Pediatrics Guide to Your Child's Nutrition By William H. Dietz M.D. Ph.D and Loraine M. Stern An excellent resource for parents concerned about their children's nutrition. The book is subtitled Making Peace at the Table and Building Healthy Eating Habits for Life, and it provides useful tips for concerned parents on how to feed their children well without turning into the food police. Subjects covered include instructions for breast and bottle feeding, introducing semi-solids and solids, toddler meals and resistance, school lunches, adolescent/parent food struggles, eating disorders, the relationship between smoking and weight distribution, and, of course, the recommended Food Guide Pyramid.

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Physical Activity Books Unplugged Play: No batteries. No plugs. Pure fun. By Bobbi Conner The author offers more than 700 ideas for play without plugs, batteries or beeps in this imaginative collection. Electronic play has a number of drawbacks—contributing to the rise in childhood obesity and isolation, and limiting creativity—while unplugged play builds strong bodies, helps kids forge friendships and expands the mind. 365 Games Smart Toddlers Play: Creative Time to Imagine, Grow and Learn by Sheila Ellison Each day with your toddler brings new experiences for them and new opportunities for you to teach, share and grow closer to each other. Bestselling parenting author Sheila Ellison fills each page with fun, practical ways to create and enhance those special everyday moments. Perfect for:Parents, Grandparents, Child-care providers, Baby-sitters Great Big Book of Children's Games: Over 450 Indoor & Outdoor Games for Kids (Ages 3-12) By Debra Wise The Great Big Book of Children's Games features more than 450 indoor and outdoor games for kids. Arranged according to appropriate age group, the games run the gamut in theme and mood. There are games designed for quiet times and intellectual stimulation as well as those that contribute to physical development, such as strength and wrestling games and races and relays. This book presents parents with a vast array of games for children of all ages The Complete Book of Rhymes, Songs, Poems, Fingerplays: Over 700 Selections By Jackie Silberg and Pam Schiller More than 700 selections in this compendium indicate a wide age range, from nursery rhymes for the very young to folk songs and other familiar American tunes. Each entry has at least one "theme connection" listed beneath it, and some have as many as four or five. The Encyclopedia of Infant and Toddler Activities: Written by Teachers for Teachers By Kathy Charner With over three hundred activities written specifically for infants and toddlers, this book will captivate children’s imaginations and create wonderful opportunities for learning. The result of a nationwide contest, these activities were selected as the best of the best and are written by teachers, directors, and caregivers. Organized by time of day, teachers will love the easy-to-use format. Covering areas such as arrival and departure time, clean up, and transitions, the activities span a variety of developmental areas, including language, sensory, cognitive, social-emotional, and motor skills. Approved by teachers and loved by children, this resource is sure to be a classroom favorite.

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The Eentsy, Weentsy Spider: Fingerplays and Action Rhymes By Joanna Cole and Stephanie Calmenson A collection of nearly forty fingerplays and action rhymes that have been chanted, sung, and enjoyed for generations. Children and their parents can join the eentsy, weentsy spider in its climb up the waterspout, pretend to pound in a nail while singing "The Hammer Song," and tip their bodies over for "I'm a Little Teapot." Included are such favorites as "The Wheels on the Bus," "This Old Man," "This Is the Church," and "Where Is Thumbkin?" as well as such lesser-known rhymes as "My Hat" and "Birthday Cake." So say them, sing them, act them out -- action rhymes are fun for everyone! The Toddler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games and Activities to Keep Your 1 1/2- to 3-Year-Old Busy By Trish Kuffner The Toddler’s Busy Book is a must-read for anyone raising or teaching toddlers! This book contains over 365 activities (one for each day of the year) for kids ages 18 months to 3 years, using items found around the home. It shows parents and day-care providers how to prevent boredom during the longest stretches of indoor weather, stimulate a child’s natural curiosity with entertaining math, language, and motor-skills activities, encourage a child’s physical, mental, and emotional growth, celebrate holidays and other occasions with special projects and activities, and keep toddlers occupied during long car trips or while running errands. The Toddler's Busy Book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. Preschooler's Busy Book: 365 Creative Games & Activities To Occupy 3-6 Year Olds By Trish Kuffner This book contains 365 activities (one for each day of the year) for three- to six-year-olds using things found around the home. The Wiggle & Giggle Busy Book: 365 Fun, Physical Activities for Your Toddler and Preschooler By Trish Kuffner The Wiggle & Giggle Busy Book contains 365 creative, lively games and activities to keep toddlers and preschoolers busy and active. It provides great alternatives to watching television, playing video games, or doing other sedentary activities. This book will get your young child up and moving for hours! The Wiggle & Giggle Busy Book shows parents and daycare providers how to: instill a love of physical exercise through games and activities that encourage a child to move; focus a child’s energy constructively; encourage a child to strengthen large and small motor skills; connect music and rhyme with physical expression to develop a child’s creativity; and celebrate holidays and other special occasions with games and activities that get everyone moving. This book is written with warmth and sprinkled with humor and insight. Toddler Play (Gymboree) By Wendy S. Masi This book was created specifically to help parents teach their children through age-appropriate play that is fun and relaxed. Based on the content of the successful Gymboree's Play & Music Programs, this book is a "recipe book" of games, finger rhymes, nursery songs, and craft exercises that parents can use to help their children develop physical, cognitive, emotional, and social skills

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Animal Action ABC By Karen Pandell This book combines lessons on the ABCs, animals, and gross motor skills. The large format pairs brilliant nature photographs with photo silhouettes of children mimicking the animals’ movements. A short glossary of each animal’s habitat and behavior is included. The Animal Boogie By Debbie Harter Filled with brilliant tropical colors, this picture book combines poetry, song, and dance into a dazzling and fun-packed guessing game. Come to the jungle and join the monkey, the leopard, the elephant, and several other creatures as they move in their own particular ways. The rhythm of the text encourages children to boogie-woogie right along. Bearobics: A Hip-Hop Counting Story By Vic Parker When one shaggy bear turns on the music, it’s time for Bearobics. First come two kangaroos, bouncing to the beat. Then three giggling gorillas get into the groove. Before you know it, the whole jungle is jumping! Part counting book, part dance-a-thon, this lively story is sure to have readers tapping their feet. Earthdance By Joanne Ryder The author’s lyrical text invites young listeners to transform themselves into Earth and experience all its wonders. She describes natural formations, flora and fauna, and humankind and its creation, encouraging children to “Dance slowly, / spin gently / and carry them / through space.” This book may serve as a catalyst for children creating their own poetry, or as a springboard for creative dramatics. Eyes, Nose, Fingers, and Toes By Judy Hindley There are millions of ways to use a body. This playful celebration of legs, bellies, noses, and necks is for those learning about body parts. A parade of multi-ethnic toddlers delights in winking eyes, stretching backs, and hugging arms. Follow Me Too: A Handbook of Movement Activities for Three- to Five-Year-Olds By Lynne B. Schneider and Marianne Torbert Features 49 active movement games that provide positive play experiences for young children. The games encourage cooperative learning and teamwork, and have been proven to increase reading readiness, social skills, and mental flexibility. From Head to Toe Board Book By Eric Carle Animals and multiethnic children illustrate various body movements on large, double-page spreads. A giraffe bends its neck; a monkey waves its arms, etc. The repetitive text has the animal stating the movement and asking, “Can you do it?” Each child responds, “I can do it!” The book is an invitation to get everyone moving.

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Hear Your Heart By Paul Showers Part of the Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out series, this book is good introduction on how the heart works. Three simple activities (measuring heart rate, exercising the heart, and making a stethoscope) are easy but effective ways to augment the text. The illustrations of the structure of the heart are well done, resulting in a good overview for beginning readers. Hop Jump By Ellen S. Walsh Through a series of dynamic double-page spreads, the book will have kids hopping, jumping, and dancing. As an extension activity, children can use wallpaper samples or wrapping paper to write and illustrate their own version of this story. How Can You Dance? By Rick Walton, Ana Lopex-Escriva This book combines playful illustrations with rhymes that hop, skip, and jump. The text features short verses about different situations or emotions and thedances that could go along with them: “How can you dance when/one foot’s sore? Dance with the other foot/touching the floor.” They are followed by instructional verses in red: “Dance on the other foo./Spin on the other foot./Hop on the other foot./Dance, spin, hop!” I Can Move By Mandy Suhr This is a series of books for preschoolers that explain to young readers about how their bodies work and grow. I Can Move! Provides ideas and activities to learn about how our bones and muscles help our body move. Jump Like a Frog! By Kate Burns This book has orangutans, flamingos, frogs, seals, and penguins swing, hop, and cavort through these pages. Exhortations to stand on one leg, as a flamingo, swing from a parent’s hand, as the orangutan does, make this book a wonderful opportunity to get children moving in a fun way. Rainy Day Recess By Pam Schiller and Mike Artell This is a collection of stories, songs, games, and activities for days you can’t go outside. All involve safe, vigorous and creative indoor movement. Activities can be mixed and matched or planned thematically – many offer suggestion for follow-ups as well. Shake a Leg! By Constance Allen This book encourages movement and exercise, and identifies body parts. Each page has a simple three-word command, such as rub your tummy: touch your ankles, each with great illustrations showing exactly what to do. It uses very simple, easy commands that help reinforce learning of body parts. It makes a good beginning reader book.

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The Big Comfy Couch Potato By Cheryl Wagner Loonette does not feel like doing anything, but with the help of her doll Molly, Granny, and Major Bedhead, she overcomes her lethargy. Come Out and Play By Maya Ajmera Colorful, vibrant photographs showcase children from ore than 35 countries involved in play. The easy-to-read, boldfaced text tells about their leisure activities, play means swinging/and jumping/and running/and climbing. Two pages of endnotes encourage children to reflect on the importance of imagination and friendship. D.W. Rides Again! By Marc Brown Arthur’s little sister D.W. has gotten a two-wheeler and thinks she’s ready for the Tour-de-France. However, training wheels are in order at least until she learns where the brakes are. Arthur takes her out and teaches her the basics plus some safety rules, and soon the training wheels are ready to come off. Dinosaurs Alive and Well: A Guide to Good Health By Laurie K. Brown and Marc Brown Simple text and lively illustrations offer good advice for kids on exercising their bodies and minds, good nutrition, first-aid, relationships with friends and family, what to do when sick, and even a special section on ways to deal with worries and stress. Exercise By Sharon Gordon What kinds of exercise do you like? Why is exercise important? Find this and more out in this easy to read Rookie Read-About Health series book. Froggy Learns to Swim By Jonathan London This book is about a frog learning to swim. His patient mother assures him that all frogs are great swimmers. He puts on his flippers, mask, and snorkel. Vivid watercolor cartoons add the humor, showing the comical facial expressions and hilarious beachwear. Froggy’s childlike dialogue and the sound words “flop, flop…splash!” make this story a wonderful read-aloud and great for promoting discussion about overcoming fear to swim. Get Moving: Tips on Exercise By Kathy Feeney From the Your Health series, this book explains why exercise and good nutrition are important for children. Illustrated with full-color photographs of children, it provides and Activity Pyramid and a “Guess What?” feature gives additional tidbits of information.

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A Healthy Body By Angela Royston This book describes the role played by exercise in maintaining strong muscles, lungs, and heart. Simple explanations are illustrated with full-color photographs of children engaged in a variety of physical activities. The brightly colored, uncluttered photographs feature multiethnic subjects. I’m Growing By Aliki A young boy who has outgrown his clothes explains the human growth process. The discussion includes topics such as bones, muscles, teeth, plus internal organs. Growth rates and dwarfism are touched on, along with mention of the role of energy and food in the process. Staying Healthy: Let’s Exercise! By Alice B. McGinty One of the titles from the Library of Healthy Living, this book provides information on physical fitness, being outside and being active, using lively text and colorful photographs of children engaging in various activities. It also offers information about bones, muscles and heart, suggests activities that emphasize quality time with family and friends, and contains a glossary Tiffany Dino Works Out By Marjorie Weinman Sharmat The author presents the sensitive issue of weight control in an upbeat, positive manner. Tiffany Dino decides that a diet and exercise regimen is in order when she can barely squeeze herself through her own front door.

Preschool Wellness Resources for Child Care Providers and Families

American Academy of Pediatrics The AAP Web site dedicated to the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity. The purpose of this site is to bring awareness to the serious health problem of childhood overweight and obesity; empower pediatricians and families to take action in their homes, offices and communities to prevent childhood obesity; and to support pediatricians, families and community advocates in improving the health status of those children who are already overweight and obese. http://www.aap.org/obesity/index.html Maryland Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics www.mdaap.org My Pyramid-USDA MyPyramid print materials for preschoolers, kids, and adults http://www.mypyramid.gov/tips_resources/printmaterials.html USDA Food and Nutrition Service http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit.html Food and Nutrition for Preschoolers – USDA Food and Nutrition Service This publication is a compilation of resources suitable for children. The resources are in a variety of information formats: articles, pamphlets, books and full-text materials on the World Wide Web. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_fun.pdf Eat Smart Play Hard – USDA Food and Nutrition Service Family Website http://www.fns.usda.gov/eatsmartplayhardhealthylifestyle/ Obesity Web Resources- Maryland Cooperative Extension http://extension.umd.edu/nutrition/efnep/Obesity.cfm Charles County Extension Service The mission of the Charles County Extension Service is to educate citizens so that they may apply practical, research-based information to address critical issues in agriculture, food, natural resources, youth and family. http://charles.umd.edu/ Childhood Obesity in Maryland http://fha.maryland.gov/cdp/co_home.cfm

5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! Let’s Go! is a community-based initiative, developed in Maine, to promote healthy lifestyle choices for children, youth and families. Resources for parents and child care providers who are interested in increasing healthy eating and physical activity. www.letsgo.org We Can! National Heart Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health We Can! has resources for everyone, providing families and communities with a variety of materials, tools, tracking sheets, training, and other information to encourage a healthy and physically active lifestyle. http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/tools-resources/index.htm

Preschool Wellness Resources for Child Care Providers

American Academy of Pediatrics The AAP Web site dedicated to the prevention of childhood overweight and obesity. The purpose of this site is to bring awareness to the serious health problem of childhood overweight and obesity; empower pediatricians and families to take action in their homes, offices and communities to prevent childhood obesity; and to support pediatricians, families and community advocates in improving the health status of those children who are already overweight and obese. http://www.aap.org/obesity/index.html Maryland Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics www.mdaap.org 5-2-1-0 Let’s Go! Let’s Go! is a community-based initiative, developed in Maine, to promote healthy lifestyle choices for children, youth and families. The goal is to increase physical activity and healthy eating for children and youth - from birth to 18. http://letsgo.org/resources/ChildCareToolkit.php?id=greenChildcare&vid=r22

Grow It Try It Like It Toolkit – USDA Food and Nutrition Service Grow It, Try It, Like It! Preschool Fun with Fruits and Vegetables is a garden-themed nutrition education kit for child care center staff that introduces children to: three fruits - peaches, strawberries, and cantaloupe, and three vegetables - spinach, sweet potatoes, and crookneck squash. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book1.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book2.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book3.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book4.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book5.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book6.pdf http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_book7.pdf Eat Smart Play Hard – USDA Food and Nutrition Service Eat Smart Play Hard Print Materials http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/eatsmartmaterials.html My Pyramid-USDA MyPyramid print materials for preschoolers, kids, and adults http://www.mypyramid.gov/tips_resources/printmaterials.html USDA Food and Nutrition Service http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit.html

Food and Nutrition for Preschoolers – USDA Food and Nutrition Service This publication is a compilation of resources suitable for children. The resources are in a variety of information formats: articles, pamphlets, books and full-text materials on the World Wide Web. http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/Resources/growit_fun.pdf Obesity Web Resources- Maryland Cooperative Extension http://extension.umd.edu/nutrition/efnep/Obesity.cfm Charles County Extension Service The mission of the Charles County Extension Service is to educate citizens so that they may apply practical, research-based information to address critical issues in agriculture, food, natural resources, youth and family. http://charles.umd.edu/ Childhood Obesity in Maryland http://fha.maryland.gov/cdp/co_home.cfm School Backpack Resources The School Nutrition Foundation has created “Backpack Brochures" to put nutrition education and information about school meals in the hands of parents - the most important role models in developing a child's healthy eating habits. School Nutrition Association members have been ordering these brochures by the hundreds, paying only shipping and handling costs, and distributing them to their students to bring home - in their backpacks. They contain up-to-date information on school meals, nutrition, favorite school recipes, wellness tips and nutrition resources for parents. http://www.schoolnutrition.org/Content.aspx?id=464 Wellness Policy Resources The Policy Opportunities Tool is designed to showcase the various policy strategies that support healthy active living for children and families. This tool is designed for healthcare professionals who have experience in advocacy and are interested in focusing their advocacy efforts on obesity prevention http://www.aap.org/obesity/matrix_1.html Action for Healthy Kids A national nonprofit organization dedicated to addressing the epidemic of overweight, undernourished and sedentary youth by focusing on changes in schools. At work in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to improve children's nutrition and increase physical activity, which will in turn improve their readiness to learn. http://www.actionforhealthykids.org/school-programs/our-programs/wellness-policy-tool/ MSDE Division of Early Childhood Development http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/ MSDE Office of Child Care http://www.marylandpublicschools.org/MSDE/divisions/child_care/child_care.htm

Child Nutrition Programs MSDE Child & Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) provides reimbursement for meals and snacks served in licensed child care centers and registered family child care homes. http://www.eatsmartmaryland.org Nutritional and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care – NAP SACC The Nutrition and Physical Activity Self-Assessment for Child Care (NAP SACC) program is a research-tested intervention designed to enhance policies, practices, and environments in child care by improving nutritional quality of food served, amount and quality of physical activity, staff-child interactions, facility nutrition and physical activity policies and practices and related environmental characteristics http://www.center-trt.org/index.cfm?fa=opinterventions.intervention&intervention=napsacc&page=intent

RESOURCES Preschool Nutrition Education

USDA Healthy Meals Resource System Loads of information on nutrition education for preschool age and above (curriculums, bulletin board ideas, gardening with children, menu planning, recipes and more!) http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov Building Blocks for Fun and Healthy Meals

The Department of Agriculture's Team Nutrition is pleased to bring you this colorful new publication entitled Building Blocks for Fun and Healthy Meals--A Menu Planner for the Child and Adult Care Food Program. This menu planner contains information on the CACFP meal requirements, advice on how to serve high quality meals and snacks, menu planning, nutrition education ideas and tips, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, food safety facts, sample menus, and much more. http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/buildingblocks.html The Two Bite Club- USDA. FNS. Team Nutrition. This educational storybook was developed to introduce MyPyramid for Preschoolers to young children. Parents or caregivers read the book to children and encourage them to try foods from each food group by eating just two bites, just like the characters in the story. http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/2biteclub.html Grow It, Try It, Like It! Preschool Fun with Fruits and Vegetables. USDA. FNS. Team Nutrition. This garden-themed nutrition education kit for child care center staff introduces children to three fruits - peaches, strawberries, and cantaloupe, and three vegetables - spinach, sweet potatoes, and crookneck squash. Each set of lessons in the six fruit or vegetable booklets contain: hands-on activities, planting activities, and nutrition education activities that introduce MyPyramid for Preschoolers. http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/Resources/growit.html MODEL Health! Promoting Nutrition and Physical Activity in Children Maryland State Department of Education; 2009. This kit is a collection of supplementary lessons on nutrition and physical activity with an emphasis on role modeling. Intended as a teacher resource in the early childhood classroom, the kit is most appropriate for use with children ages three to five. http://healthymeals.nal.usda.gov/hsmrs/Maryland/MODELHealth.pdf USDA Food and Nutrition Service- Child Care Provider Resources http://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/childcare.htm

My Pyramid for Preschoolers USDA. The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion. MyPyramid for Preschoolers can be used to help customized MyPyramid plans for children 2 to 5 years of age. http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/index.html

Sample meal and snack pattern: 1000 kcal http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/Patterns/1000cals.pdf http://www.mypyramid.gov/Preschoolers/HealthyHabits/Patterns/PatternA1000cals.pdf http://www.mypyramid.gov/Preschoolers/HealthyHabits/Patterns/PatternB1000cals.pdf

Sample meal and snack pattern 1200 kcal http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/Patterns/1200cals.pdf

Sample meal and snack pattern 1400 kcal http://www.mypyramid.gov/preschoolers/HealthyHabits/Patterns/1400cals.pdf Fruit and Veggies More Matters http://www.fruitsandveggiesmatter.gov/ Healthy School Celebrations Center for Science in the Public Interest http://cspinet.org/new/pdf/healthy_school_celebrations.pdf We Can! Go, Slow, Whoa foods http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/public/heart/obesity/wecan/downloads/urwhateat.pdf CDC- Childhood Overweight and Obesity http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/childhood/index.html American Academy of Pediatrics Children’s Health Topics: Overweight and Obesity http://www.aap.org/healthtopics/overweight.cfm Child of Mine: Feeding with Love and Good Sense (Book) By Ellyn Satter How to Get Your Kid to Eat…But Not Too Much (Book) By Ellyn Satter

Laurie Bosak, MS, RD, LD 4/11