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Nourishing Students: Early Childhood Education Resources

Nourishing Students: Early Childhood Education Resources
The early years of a child’s life are full of discovery — and that includes discovering new foods. With more young children participating in California’s free School Meals for All and Transitional Kindergarten (TK) programs, there is a growing opportunity to shape lifelong healthy habits.
A child’s love for a particular fruit or vegetable can begin anywhere: in the classroom, the cafeteria, the garden — or at home. When children experience familiar ingredients in multiple settings, their curiosity grows, and so does their willingness to try new foods. The Center for Ecoliteracy’s Nourishing Students resources offer activities and recipes for educators, families, and school nutrition professionals featuring fruits and vegetables grown in California, including avocados, beans, carrots, cilantro, and radishes.
Resources
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FOR EDUCATORS
Nourishing Students: Discovering Fruits and Vegetables with Early Learners includes standards-based classroom activities to engage students’ senses through art, math, language, science, and social-emotional learning.
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FOR EDUCATORS
Nourishing Students: Bilingual Learning Cards in English and Spanish can be used in the classroom or garden to teach students about the wonders of fruits and vegetables.
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FOR SCHOOL NUTRITION
Nourishing Students: Recipes for Discovering Fruits and Vegetables with Early Learners includes innovative strategies and 12 real school cafeteria recipes to strengthen connections between the classroom and cafeteria.
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FOR FAMILIES / PARA FAMILIAS
Discovering Fruits and Vegetables with Early Learners / Descubrir frutas y verduras con niños pequeños extends lessons beyond the classroom providing simple activities and recipes that invite families to cook, taste, and explore together.
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Virtual professional development workshop
In March 2026, the Center for Ecoliteracy hosted a workshop with early childhood educators to explore Nourishing Students activities and resources.
Watch the recording and download the slides to learn about these resources and how to activate them in your classroom.
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