Early Atlas

Skill

Makes Nutritious Food Choices

Child identifies healthy foods, understands that food helps the body grow, and makes nutritious choices with growing independence.

Ages 36–60 months

health-safety nutrition healthy-choices preschool

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Why it matters

Preschoolers can begin to reason about why we eat the foods we do. Naming healthy and less-healthy foods, understanding that variety helps the body grow, and reading their own hunger and fullness give children the knowledge and self-regulation to make nutritious choices on their own.

Builds toward this milestone

  • develops knowledge and skills that help promote nutritious food choices and eating habits. — Head Start ELOF

Explore milestones →

What mastery looks like

  • Identifies a variety of healthy and less-healthy foods.
  • Explains in simple terms that eating a variety of foods helps the body grow.
  • Makes healthy eating choices both independently and with support.
  • Adjusts how much they eat based on feeling hungry or full.

How to observe it

  • When choosing a snack, can the child point out which options are healthy?
  • Does the child stop eating when full rather than finishing out of habit?

Accessibility

  • Use picture cards and real foods so children can match and choose without relying on text.
  • Respect cultural foods and family practices when discussing healthy choices.

Safety

  • Keep food talk positive and pressure-free, and follow each child's allergy and dietary plan.

Activities

Evidence

Early Atlas