Nutrition Basics: Fiber
You may know that fiber is important, but do you understand why or how much you need? This Mealtime Memo from our partners at the Institute of Child Nutrition covers fiber sources, health benefits, and strategies to increase fiber intake.
American Heart Month
February is American Heart Month! Did you know that each year more than 350,000 people, including 23,000 children, in the U.S. experience cardiac arrest outside of a hospital. CPR can double or even triple a person’s change of survival. During American Heart Month, our partners at the American Heart Association are challenging people across the country to learn CPR.
Parental Addiction
Our partners at Sesame Workshop have partnered with the Foundation for Opioid Response Efforts to create new resources to support caring adults supporting children impacted by parental addiction. Building on the library of parental addiction resources on Sesame.org, the new resources include a curated professional development course for providers.
Sofia the Feelings Helper
This video from our partners at Sesame Street in Communities is for all children, whether or not they’re seeing a therapist or counselor! Children can learn along with Elmo and Karli to understand the job of “feelings helpers”—professionals who help children (and grown-ups too) when big feelings get too big, too often.
Processed Foods: Making Nutritious Choices
There is a common belief that processed foods, with their high fat, sugar, and salt content, are inherently unhealthy. Did you know some items we consider “nutritious,” like bagged spinach or prepacked apple slices, are also processed foods? Our partners at the Institute of Child Nutrition delve into the different levels of processed foods and offers guidance on making healthy choices.
Adapted Movement
Disabilities can affect a person’s mobility, one or more of their senses, or their neurological development. However, this shouldn’t keep people with disabilities from being involved in games and activities. Our partners at Alliance for a Healthier Generation have tips on how to adapt movements to ensure young people with and without disabilities can play together and experience the benefits of being active.
Stretch, Breathe, Move!
Our bodies can teach us a lot about our feelings, and our bodies can also help us understand and manage our feelings. Our partners at Sesame Street in Communities have resources to help you encourage children to notice the “clues” their bodies give them about what they may be feeling (for instance, a stomachache may be a sign that they’re feeling worried). Then, show them how to use their bodies to help them manage their feelings.
Physical Activity in Child Care Settings
In the face of chilly temperatures, engaging in outdoor activities may seem less inviting. Yet, the importance of maintaining an active lifestyle is vital. Our partners ICN highlight the importance of physical activity and provides a variety of opportunities for staying active, both indoors and outdoors, within the child care setting.
Wellness Wheel of Self-Care
You can only show up for others, when you take care of yourself. That’s why self-care is so important for CACFP operators who are ensuring that children and adults in care receive nutritious meals. Our partners at Alliance for a Healthier Generation created the Wellness Wheel to provide ideas and action steps for self-care that address five key areas of overall well-being.
Reducing Salt Intake
Early childhood is a critical time for developing taste preferences. The food eaten by children during this time can influence their eating habits for many years. One challenge is the allure of salty flavors. However, too much sodium or salt intake can pose health risks. This Mealtime Memo from our partners at the Institute of Child Nutrition will demonstrate how to identify sodium in products and provide healthy food alternatives.