Draw a picture of your favorite fruit or veggie

Child Care Program Name Your Favorite Fruit or Veggie Introductions Your Name Child Care Program Name Your Favorite Fruit or Veggie When is it in season in NC

Teaching Kids about Fresh, Local Produce Goals for Training Share methods to develop a daily atmosphere that supports healthy eating habits Begin to collect learning activities about fresh, local produce

Healthy Eating for a Lifetime What Where food comes from What’s healthy Why it’s healthy Ultimate Goal: Healthy Eating for a Lifetime

How Daily Atmosphere Variety of foods served - exposure to new produce Teachers eating with children Teachers interactions during meals/snacks Planned Learning Activities Ongoing activities – gardening, science center, etc. Planned lesson plans So when we talk about Farm to Child Care in Wake County, we’re talking specifically about buying fruits and vegetables from farmers in NC or businesses that buy from farmers in North Carolina. For most if not all of you, this is will be a change in the way you buy (and ultimately serve) fruits and vegetables. Your teachers will also start to include activities about these fruits and vegetables the children are eating and you’ll let families know that you are buying local fruits and vegetables and share information with them to keep the learning and exploration going at home.

Daily Atmosphere Exposure to new foods Taste Tastings Adding items to menu – Seasonal planning Cooking activities Gardening – from farm to fork So when we talk about Farm to Child Care in Wake County, we’re talking specifically about buying fruits and vegetables from farmers in NC or businesses that buy from farmers in North Carolina. For most if not all of you, this is will be a change in the way you buy (and ultimately serve) fruits and vegetables. Your teachers will also start to include activities about these fruits and vegetables the children are eating and you’ll let families know that you are buying local fruits and vegetables and share information with them to keep the learning and exploration going at home.

Activity Daily Atmosphere So when we talk about Farm to Child Care in Wake County, we’re talking specifically about buying fruits and vegetables from farmers in NC or businesses that buy from farmers in North Carolina. For most if not all of you, this is will be a change in the way you buy (and ultimately serve) fruits and vegetables. Your teachers will also start to include activities about these fruits and vegetables the children are eating and you’ll let families know that you are buying local fruits and vegetables and share information with them to keep the learning and exploration going at home.

Tips for Setting a Good Example Daily Atmosphere Tips for Setting a Good Example Eat together. Eat meals with your child whenever possible. Let your child see you enjoying fruits, vegetables, and whole grains at meals and snacks. Making good choices. Show your child how to make healthy choices. Eat only healthy food in front of children Share the adventure. Be willing to try new foods, and try new foods together. Discuss the new foods during meal times Cook together. Encourage your preschooler to help you prepare meals and snacks. Teach your child to tear lettuce or add veggie toppings to pizza. Keep things positive. Discourage older children and other family members from making yucky faces or negative comments about unfamiliar foods. So when we talk about Farm to Child Care in Wake County, we’re talking specifically about buying fruits and vegetables from farmers in NC or businesses that buy from farmers in North Carolina. For most if not all of you, this is will be a change in the way you buy (and ultimately serve) fruits and vegetables. Your teachers will also start to include activities about these fruits and vegetables the children are eating and you’ll let families know that you are buying local fruits and vegetables and share information with them to keep the learning and exploration going at home.

Incorporate into activity areas Outdoor Place Space Science Center Dramatic Play Center Book Center

Gardening

Seed Matching Game

Seed Matching Game

Science Experiment

Planned Learning Activities Prepare lessons that focus on Where food comes from What’s healthy Why it’s healthy

Planned Learning Activities Activity Time

Lynn Policastro Farm to Child Care Program Coordinator lpolicastro@wakesmartstart.org 919-851-9550