Education about fruit and vegetables in early childhood can have a dramatic impact on a child's entire life. The Australian Bureau of Statistics reports that only 8.5% of children eat the recommended amount of both fruit and vegetables, but healthy eating in early childhood can continue into adulthood, and may reduce their risk of developing conditions such as diabetes and heart disease.
The National Quality Standard (NQS) requires early learning services to promote healthy eating that is appropriate for each child (2.1.3). The Early Years Learning Framework (EYLF) asks children to take increasing responsibility for their own health and physical wellbeing (3.2).
Early childhood educators can promote vegetables and fruit through experiences in food, nutrition, cooking, health and gardening.
Names of fruit and vegetables
Use these lists to start your exploration into fruits and vegetables. Children can develop their language abilities by talking about, naming, and identifying different types of produce.
Fruit
Apples, apricots, bananas, blackberries, blueberries, cherries, figs, grapefruit, grapes, kiwifruit, lemons, limes, mandarins, nectarines, honeydew, rockmelon, watermelon, mangoes, nectarine, oranges, passionfruit, peaches, pears, persimmons, pineapple, plums, quinces, raspberries, and strawberries.
Vegetables
Artichokes, asparagus, avocado, beans, beansprouts, beetroot, bok choy, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, celery, chillies, corn, cucumbers, eggplant, fennel, leeks, lettuce, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, pumpkins, rhubarb, silverbeet, snow peas, spinach, spring onions, sweet potato, squash, tomatoes, turnips, and zucchini.
Learning experiences
Start Taste & Learn for Early Years
Taste & Learn for Early Years is a free program for Australian childcare centres, provided by CSIRO. It aims to increase children’s enjoyment in eating vegetables. Download learning resources that link to NQS and EYLF, including an eight-week structured program.
Guess which fruit
Children are blindfolded or have their eyes covered. They are given a piece of fruit to eat and are asked to guess what it is.
Paint still-life vegetables
Place a vegetable in the middle of a painting table. Also provide paintbrushes, paper, and various paint colours that match those of the fruit. Offer subtle variations in colour. Encourage children to observe and paint the fruit as they see it in front of them.
Classify fruit and vegetables
Offer children a wide selection of fruits and vegetables, either real ones, pictures, or toys. Ask the children to classify them into groups, such as fruits vs vegetables, colours, shapes, likes vs dislikes.
Resources
VegKIT
The VegKIT guidelines, tools and resources help childcare centres increase children's vegetable intake. They can be used to enhance all aspects of your program, including menus and mealtimes.
Picture books
- A Pair of Pears and an Orange by Anna McGregor
-
How Does My Fruit Grow? by Gerda Muller
Music
- Teeny Tiny Stevies: I ate a rainbow
- The Wiggles: Apples and bananas
- Justine Clarke: Watermelon
- Sesame Street: Shake the mango tree
Videos
State Government of Victoria: Herbs and potatoes: discussions and investigations