New Study Says Nutrition Education Should Begin Much Earlier

Many experts agree that preschool is an important part of early childhood development. Learning to socialize, adhere to a schedule, and learn age appropriate lesson plans are all crucial elements of a child’s opportunity for success. Now research is showing that parents and teachers should begin imparting nutrition knowledge to children as young as 3 years old.

A MedlinePlus article highlights a new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology examines the effects of a heart-healthy lifestyle program for more than 2,000 children in Madrid between the ages of 3 and 5.

Kids Can Be Natural Foodies

“The program focused on diet, exercise, managing emotions and an understanding of the body. It included classroom materials and take-home activities for students to do with their families, and activities associated with the schools’ annual health fairs.

The children were followed for up to three years. Those in the program showed better knowledge about a heart-healthy lifestyle, attitudes and habits. They were also slightly less likely to be overweight or obese than

those who weren’t in the program, the study found.”

This isn’t to say that we need to describe the horrors of later-in-life heart disease to our little ones, but begin teaching them healthy habits and good nutrition to help them form a solid base for the rest of their lives.

_{original article: https://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_154857.html}