There are so many mixed messages out there that our children see and hear about food. They are bombarded with messages about their bodies, food, and values by the media, schools, families, and books.
Families that cook together, learn healthy living together.
Just take these few examples as message that maybe be confusing to kids, and undermine the goal of eating healthy, whole, and nutritious foods:
*A sleeper with cupcakes all over it (in the design, not crumbs…).
* Toys in fast food! Message: This food must be good for me, it comes with a toy and has cartoons on the box.
*Well meaning friends and family say things like, “Ohhh, you are having a treat! How yummy!” How many people say that about carrots?
*Commercials with happy families at Applebee’s, KFC, or other fast and highly processed foods.
It is confusing for kids building their knowledge of eating, living, and being healthy. In the positive message territory, good references can be few and far between. Here are a few great books for showing kids how to eat and live healthy.
1. Eating the Alphabet
Did you see Jamie Oliver’s Food Revolution awhile ago? He held up vegetable and many schoolkids had NO IDEA what they were. Honestly. It was deeply troubling. Give your child a vegetable ID lesson with this book by the beloved Eric Carle.
2. Growing Vegetable Soup
There is nothing to connect children to their food like growing a garden. This board book takes kids through the growing of vegetables to the making of a great big pot of vegetable soup. Simple and delicious!
3. You Are Healthy
The positive messages in this book abound. You are healthy when you take a nap, and wake up rested. How lovely! We all love well rested kids. This book is packed with healthy messages for your kids to take to heart and fend off the many negative ones they encounter every day.
What children’s books do you read that support your ideas about healthy eating?
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Katy Farber is an author, teacher, and blogger. To learn more about eating non-toxic, green and healthy, please check out her new eBook, Eat-Non-Toxic: a manual for busy parents and visit Non-Toxic Kids for green parenting news; opportunities for activism; tips on natural living; and music, book and eco-friendly product reviews.
I love the first 2 books. I wil have to check out the third. I am constantly struggling to know what healthy foods to feed my son and he’s only 1!
I have read the first two. The third one looks great!
JDaniel4′s Mom recently posted..Is it Santa’s birthday too?
These look great! I haven’t read any of them, so I’m adding them to the list for our next library visit. Come to think of it, we don’t really have any books in our collection that specifically encourage healthy eating. Something to keep an eye out for! On the gardening front, we do love Inch By Inch, though, and I hope the song and our garden encourage a healthy, happy relationship with food.
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We love those Lois Ehlert books here too. They’re great for encouraging healthy living habits in kids.
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Thank you for these suggestions!
I agree that the messages that families receive about healthy eating are SO confusing! Can’t wait to check out these books :-)
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