Child Nutrition Education

The Culture of Wellness Nutrition Education Program is a creative, fun, and experiential way for children to learn about healthy eating and incorporate healthy habits into their daily lives. The lessons involve food preparation and tasting while reinforcing Colorado’s Early Learning Framework to promote school readiness standards in a variety of disciplines. The Culture of Wellness Nutrition Education Program also offers nutrition education to the entire family through healthy recipes and newsletters. The goals of the program are to 1) increase fruit and vegetable consumption, 2) improve children’s willingness to try new foods and 3) encourage and foster healthy eating in preschool-aged children.  Our innovative program reinforces Head Start Performance Standards, utilizes classroom teachers to increase student reach and impact, and promotes connections between classroom and home to improve health messaging.

COWP lessons


INEP lessons


Outcomes


79%

Of teachers believe their preschool children are more knowledgeable about healthy eating and nutrition.

85%

Of teachers believe their preschool children are more willing to experiment and try new foods.

84%

Of teachers believe their preschool children are more willing to select fruit & vegetables at snacks and meal times.

68%

Of teachers believe their preschool children are more confident in preparing food with help from an adult.

Testimonials


Very easy and the children enjoyed it. Love the nutrition lesson plans and it fits with everything required.

Teacher

Adams County Head Start, Rainbow
children sitting around table of fruit
It’s been really neat to see the kids trying new stuff. It’s been interesting with our menus too because they have a rotating cycle and we’re noticing the kids are trying more stuff because they are becoming more familiar with it.

Teacher

Mi Segunda Casa Head Start
The kids loved it! They asked me if we could do it [the nutrition lesson] again another day.

Teacher

Jefferson County Head Start
child with hands up smiling at camera
The students actually ate the veggies and had fun doing it. We did it as a whole group and mostly focused on descriptive words about the veggies and their names. We are able to connect the lesson during many meal times now when we are served these veggies at the table.

Teacher

Adam County Head Start, Sunshine

Rocky Mountain Prevention Research Center (RMPRC)

Colorado School of Public Health

CU Anschutz

Fitzsimons Building

13001 East 17th Place

3rd Floor East

Mail Stop B119

Aurora, CO 80045


CMS Login