People, Programs, & Partnerships: Building Synergy to Create Healthy Early Education Environments
Have you been interested in getting started with early care and education (ECE) programming but don’t know where to start? Learn about the diverse types of childcare programs and the regulatory landscape surrounding nutrition and physical activity. Learn to identify key local champions—both internal and external to these systems—who can drive change. Finally, explore turn-key, evidence-based resources like Go NAPSACC, Be Active Kids, EAT Family Style, and Farm to ECE to help transform childcare environments into healthier, more vibrant spaces.
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Neurodiversity at the Table: Understanding How Sensory- Processing Impacts Mealtimes with Children
“If they are hungry enough, they will eat.” But what if children refuse to eat or insist on eating the same food repetitively? This presentation will discuss how challenging feeding behaviors often involve sensory or skill-based issues. Participants will learn strategies that can be used to support teachers and families interested in turning their food-sensitive child into an adventurous eater.
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More Than Showing Up: Strategies for Supporting Family Engagement
“It’s almost like we are working against each other.” We have all experienced the challenges of engaging young families in nutrition and physical activity programming. It may feel as if families are complacent or uninterested; however, research shows there is more to the story. In this session, agents and educators will discuss the unique challenges young families face with limited resources and best practices strategies for supporting family engagement in nutrition and physical activity programming.
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Raising Adventurous Eaters: Changing the Way We Think About Picky Eating
In this session, we will explore the typical eating behaviors of the preschool (3-5 year old) child. Together, we will discuss the challenges and explore solutions to frequently encountered issues when working with young children around healthy foods. Special attention will be given to strategies, both inside and outside the mealtime environment, that can be used to improve children’s preference and consumption of healthy foods with the goal of raising the next generation of adventurous eaters.