EatingHealthy.GrowingStrong.

TheAllianceforaHealthierGenerationandtheAmericanAcademyofPediatricshavejoinedwiththebest-sellingchildren’sbook,

The Very Hungry CaterpillarbyEricCarle,tohelpfamilieslearnabouthealthyeatinghabits.

HealthyEatingatHomeMatters!

TheVeryHungryCaterpillareatsmanyfoodsonhisjourneytobecomingabutterfly.Youcanhelpyourchildonhisor

herownjourneytogrowuphealthyandstrong.

4TipstoGrowHealthyandStrong

1. EatFruitsandVegetablesatEveryMeal Fruitsandvegetablesaddimportantvitaminsandfibertoyourdiet.Ateverymeal, includesomekindoffresh,frozen,orcannedfruitsandvegetables.Justbesureto watchoutforthosewithfattysaucesoraddedsugar.Aimforatleast5fruitsand veggiesaday.Remembertoavoidsmall,hardfoodsonwhichyourchildcanchoke, andcutanyfirm,roundfoods(e.g.,rawcarrotsorgrapes)intolong,thinslices.

Ideasforaddingfruitsandveggiestoyourmeals: • Addfruitsandveggiestofoodsyourchildalreadylikes:putblueberriesin pancakes,choppedfruitoncereal,orsmallpiecesofbroccoliinmacaroni andcheese.

• Makeitfun:trycuttingupfoodintofunshapesormakingfacesoutoffruits andvegetables.

• Prepareandpackfruitsandveggiesassnacksforafter-school,aftersports practice,andothertimes.

2. GiveKidsaSayInWhatTheyEatandGetThem ExcitedAboutHealthyFood

Helpyourkidsmaketherightfoodchoicesfromanearlyage.Youcandothis bygivingthemtwohealthychoicestochoosefrom,likeanappleandanorange. It’sagreatwayforyourkidstogetexcitedabouteatinghealthyfoods.Letthem decidewhatandhowmuchtoeat.

Ideastohelpchildrengetexcitedaboutfood: • Letthemhelpyouwithsmall,kid-safejobsinthekitchensuchasmixing ingredientsandsettingthetable.

• Allowthemtosmell,touch,taste,andplaywithfood.

3. EatBreakfastEveryDay Eatingbreakfasthelpsyourchildstarthisdayinahealthyway. Incorporatefruitandwholegrainswheneverpossible.Childrenandadultswho eatbreakfastdailyarelesslikelytobeoverweight.

4. EatTogetherAsaFamily Trytosetasideyourmealsasfamilytime,andeattogetherasoftenaspossible. Evenbabiescanjoinfamilymealtime.Byage9months,theyareabletoeaton thesameschedulewithyou.Createfamilymealtimeswhentheyarelittleand keepthistraditionastheygrow.

Formoreinformationabouthealthynutritionforyourchild,visit:TheAcademy’swebsiteat

www.healthychildren.org/veryhungrycaterpillarTheAlliance’swebsiteat

www.healthiergeneration.org/veryhungrycaterpillar

FindoutmoreaboutThe Very Hungry CaterpillarandauthorandillustratorEricCarle

atwww.eric-carle.comandwww.penguin.com/ericcarle

AGuidetoReadingWithYourChildStarttalking,singing,andreadingwithyourchildfromthebeginning.Hewilllearnthatreadingisafunactivityyousharetogether.• Pointtowordsasyoureadthem,showingyourchildthattheprintcarriesthestory.• Askyourchildtonamethingssheseesinthepictures.Talkabouthowthepictures relatetothestory.• Readingdoesn’thavetobeahugeproject.Evenathree-minutestoryeverynight beforebedtimewillhelpyourchildlearn.

DiscussHealthyActiveLivingusingThe Very Hungry Caterpillar • Teachyourchildthatapples,pears,plums,strawberries,andorangesareallfruits. Askhimifhecannameotherfruits. • Talktoherabouthowfruitsaregoodforthebody. • Talkabouthowwhenthecaterpillarovereats,hegetsastomachache—soitisimportant tostopeatingwhenyoufeelfull. • Talkabouthowsomefoodsare“sometimes”foods—likecakeandicecream—andhow itisnotagoodideatoeatthemallthetime. • Afterreadingthepagewherethecaterpillareatsthegreenleafandfeelsbetter,talkto yourchildabouthowyoutooeatgreenleaves(lettuce,spinach,cabbage,etc.)andhowit isgoodforyourbody. • Teachyourchildthatitisimportanttoeathealthyfoods,sohecangrowuphealthyand activelikeabutterfly.

Art©EricCarle

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