Empowering Pre-Schoolers: The Role of Healthy Eating in Early Childhood Development

The video discusses the Harvest for Healthy Kids program, which aims to introduce a variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables to children in the Mount Hood Community College Head Start program. The program features a different fruit or vegetable each month, integrating it into meals and activities to encourage healthy eating habits. It highlights the importance of repeated exposure to new foods to change children's preferences and addresses challenges in sourcing local produce. The program also aims to combat childhood obesity and support sustainable local food systems.

What is the main goal of the Harvest for Healthy Kids program?

• To increase the variety of processed foods in schools

• To introduce a wider variety of locally grown fruits and vegetables

• To reduce the number of meals served in schools

• To eliminate fruits and vegetables from school menus

How many exposures are generally needed to change a child's preference for a new food?

• One or two

• Three to five

• Fifteen to twenty

• Eight to ten

What activities are children engaged in to learn about the featured food?

• Playing video games

• Attending lectures

• Cooking, art, and reading activities

• Watching TV shows

What challenge does the program face in sourcing food?

• Eliminating all processed foods

• Reducing the cost of imported fruits

• Transporting food from overseas

• Finding local growers to supply enough produce

Why is it important to intervene early in children's food experiences?

• To ensure they eat only fast food

• To increase their sugar intake

• To develop preferences for healthy foods

• To make them dislike vegetables