ABOUT
This training explores how early childhood educators can use fruit and vegetable taste tests and hands-on food experiences to support healthy development and lifelong eating habits in young children. Participants will examine the critical role nutrition plays in brain development, growth, and overall well-being during the most sensitive years of life, and why early care and learning settings are powerful environments for obesity prevention and health promotion.
This course applies to infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children.
For questions, please contact info@chepl.org.
Learning Outcomes
After completing Shaping Young Palates: Using Taste Tests to Shape Early Food Preferences, you will be able to:
Explain the role of nutrition in supporting young children’s healthy development during the early childhood years.
Describe how early exposure, repeated tasting, and hands-on food experiences influence children’s developing food preferences and eating behaviors.
Recognize why early care and learning environments play a critical role in shaping children’s nutrition habits and supporting obesity prevention efforts.
Identify developmentally appropriate food preparation activities that can be implemented with infants, toddlers, pre-school, and school-aged children.
Describe the basic steps for planning and conducting a successful taste test, including choosing a theme, preparing foods safely, and guiding children’s sensory exploration.
Identify simple ways to engage families and staff in supporting children’s food exploration and healthy eating habits.
Develop one initial action step for implementing taste testing or hands-on food experiences in their own classroom or early care program.
Topics Covered
Foundations of early childhood development and the role of nutrition
Childhood obesity prevention in early care and education settings
How young children develop food preferences and eating behaviors
Taste testing as a nutrition education strategy
Planning and implementing age-appropriate taste testing activities
Creating safe, supportive environments that promote healthy eating behaviors
Requirements
Please note the following expectations:
Participants must be able to fluently read and write English.
Active participation in quizzes and online activities are required.
A training evaluation must be completed in order to receive a certificate of completion.
Quizzes must be completed with a passing score of at least 80%.
Visit our Training Policy for full details on attendance, participation, and credit requirements. For further questions or support, please contact info@chepl.org.
Continuing Education
Georgia
This course provides 1.0 clock hour of state-approved training recognized and approved by Bright from the Start: Georgia Department of Early Care and Learning (DECAL) and applicable toward annual professional development requirements for early childhood educators.
Standards
This training addresses the following Workforce Knowledge and Competency (WKC) Areas for Georgia.
Competency 1: Promoting Child Development and Learning
ECE1.1 - Using knowledge of young children’s characteristics, culture and linguistic backgrounds, and their needs to plan appropriate and responsive learning experienc
ECE1.3 - Using developmental knowledge to create healthy, respectful, supportive, and stimulating learning environments and relationships.
ECE1.4 - Creates emotionally and physically safe environments for children.
Competency 2: Building Family and Community Relationships
ECE2.1 - Fostering family engagement in the child’s educational experiences.
Competency 4: Using Developmentally Effective Approaches to Connect with Children
ECE4.3 - Intentionally planning and preparing a learning environment that nurtures each and every child’s initiative, encourages active exploration of materials, supports engagement with activities, and encourages interactions with others.
Georgia’s Workforce Knowledge and Competencies (WKCs) guide the development and delivery of quality professional learning opportunities for Georgia’s early learning and school age workforce. Learn more about the standards here.