Healthy eating habits can begin long before a child starts school. In fact, parents can begin laying the foundation from the time a child starts eating solid foods, at around 6 months old. As children grow through the toddler and preschool years, everyday experiences with food can help shape the choices and habits they carry with them as they get older.

Parents and caregivers play an important role by introducing a variety of nutritious foods, encouraging children to try new tastes and textures, and helping them understand that some foods should be enjoyed more often than others. These early years are also a wonderful time to begin simple, age-appropriate conversations about taking care of our bodies and making healthy choices.

The Book Version, along with its discussion page in our first book, Four Yummy Cupcakes, focuses on healthy eating and sharing. Through a fun and entertaining story, young children can begin learning about making healthier food choices while also discovering the importance of sharing with others.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 15% of children ages 2–5, 22% of children ages 6–11, and 23% of adolescents ages 12–19 in the United States are affected by obesity. In addition, approximately 40% of U.S. adults are affected by obesity.

These numbers highlight why healthy eating habits start young. Helping children become familiar with nutritious foods and teaching them to limit foods high in added sugars can help establish positive habits before they enter school—habits that may continue as they grow into adulthood.

Children do not need complicated lessons about nutrition. Learning can begin with something as simple as trying colorful fruits and vegetables, choosing nutritious snacks, enjoying sweets less often, and talking about how healthy foods help their bodies grow, play, learn, and stay strong.

The earlier we make healthy eating a normal and enjoyable part of a child's life, the greater the opportunity to give them a healthy foundation for the future. Subscribe to our Youtube page @TheRainbowRace to be updated on when our new videos and books are released to support this important campaign.

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Infant and Toddler Nutrition; National Center for Health Statistics, Childhood Obesity and Adult Obesity Data.