March is National Nutrition Month

While it is always important to practice healthy eating habits, this month serves as a reminder, as March marks National Nutrition Month. Good nutrition is important to physical health and brain development in children.

In this article, we offer some meal-planning tips for preschool educators. Here are some key facts to keep in mind:

• The age of children, their needs and activity level should guide your classroom's eating plan. 
• Practice variety by serving children different foods everyday.
• Serve children small portions during snack-time.
• Understand that children's appetites differ, so it is normal for some students to eat more than others. In addition, their appetites can vary from day-to-day.

Aim to incorporate the following five food groups into your snacks:

• Grains
• Vegetables
• Fruits
• Dairy
• Protein 

If you are interested in exploring this subject in greater depth, ProSolutions Training offers a number of relevant courses. These courses include: "Creating Healthy Lifestyles: Balancing Children's Diets with Good Food Choices," "Healthy Meal Planning," "Keeping It Safe: Preventing Food-borne Illnesses in Child Care Settings" and "MyPlate: Helping Children Make Healthy Food Choices." Through these courses, you'll learn about the five essential nutrients and the nine steps of successful meal planning. 

In addition to our courses on nutrition, we also offer a range of other curriculum planning and professional resources for early childhood educators. These offerings include a CDA course and a CDA Renewal course for professionals seeking the CDA Credential, which is administered and awarded by the Council for Professional Recognition. In 2013, ProSolutions Training became the first online training company to become a formal partner of the Council. Contact us to learn more.