Preschoolers’ Nutrition and Fitness

This list contains a variety of resources associated with nutrition and fitness for preschoolers.
IEL Resources
- Tip Sheets:
- Q&A: Development in Young Children
Web Resources
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Facing Food Challenges One Plate at a Time
(also in Spanish)Source: Illinois Early Intervention Clearinghouse
This parent tip provides easy ways to add variety and more substance to family meals.
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Feeling Hungry? Satisfying Books about Food for Young Children
Source: Cooperative Children’s Book Center
This reviews a selection of books for young children on food topics, such as eating vegetables and foods for special occasions.
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Fitness and Your 3- to 5-Year-Old
Source: KidsHealth
This website suggests ways that parents can encourage children to participate in physical activities to promote good health.
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Help Your Preschooler Eat Well, Be Active, and Grow Up Healthy!
Source: My Plate: U.S. Department of Agriculture
This section of the ChooseMyPlate website is for parents and caregivers of children 2 through 5 years of age who want to help preschoolers eat well, be active, and be healthy.
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How Should I Deal with a Picky Eater?
Source: KidsHealth
This Q&A website explains what parents can do when their child is a selective eater.
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Making Physical Activity a Part of a Child’s Life
Source: Centers on Disease Control (CDC)
This resource explains to parents how to get – and keep their child active, and how to meet the recommended levels of physical activity.
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Motor Development
Source: University of Pittsburgh
This parent guide includes a list of motor development milestones.
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Recipes for Kids
Source: KidsHealth
Letting children help with food and meal preparation is a great way to encourage them to try new foods and think about nutrition. This website includes recipes for children with special health concerns, such as diabetes.
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Understanding and Guiding How Your Child Eats
Source: University of Pittsburgh
This guide suggests ways that parents can make family meals fun and pleasurable while promoting good eating habits.
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Your Child’s Weight
(also in Spanish)Source: KidsHealth
This article covers topics such as growth and puberty, body mass index, under and overweight, and the role genes play.