New RAND Recommendations on Investing in High-Quality Early Education
The final report in the RAND Corporation's series on California's preschool system confirms that early childhood education is a critical part of K-12 reform. More » |
New Resource for Families: The Preschool Experiences We Deserve
Recently, the non-profit organization Families in Schools and its partners made available a document that challenges parents to think about their children's preschool options. More »
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First 5 Association of California Responds to the Failure of Proposition 1D
The First 5 Association of California issued a statement in response to voters' rejection of Proposition 1D, which sought to divert First 5 revenues to the state general fund. More »
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Kate Mrgudic
From South Central Los Angeles, to the mountains of Montana, to a Navajo reservation in Arizona, Kate Mrgudic brings a wealth of experience to her job as lead program officer at First 5 LA. More » |
Fruits and Veggies
Feeding children fruits and vegetables can help them live a longer healthier life. These important dietary staples can help reduce a child's risk of heart disease, Type 2 Diabetes and even certain cancers later in life. Unfortunately, less than half of California's kids under 11 years of age eat enough fruits and vegetables every day, and at least 15 percent of children under 6 years are overweight.
Sometimes children need help getting interested in eating fruits and vegetables. Vegetables especially have a natural bitterness that almost all children need a some time to get used to. I recommend having a little fun with food and try making faces out of your fruits and veggies. Here are some ideas:
- Use a bell pepper, eggplant or head of lettuce for the face.
- Olives, grapes, cherries or peas for the eyes.
- Pear, cucumber or radish for a nose.
- Red berries or tomatoes for rosy cheeks.
- Banana for a smile, zucchini for a smirk or a carrot for a not-so-happy look.
- Parsley, cauliflower, broccoli or grapes for hair.
Also, First 5 California has available, for FREE a child friendly recipe book called Yummy for Your Tummy written by the popular Chef La La. Call (800) KIDS025 to order.
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