Early Sprouts is a seed-to-table gardening and nutrition curriculum. The goal is to foster of a love of vegetables among children during these critical early years. Early Sprouts was developed by Professor Karrie Kalich from Keene State鈥檚 Health Science Department. 91影视 Early Childhood Faculty Dottie Bauer and CDC Teachers helped in the development of the curriculum by integrating knowledge of child development.
Early Sprouts is a research-based nutrition curriculum that encourages preschoolers to eat more vegetables by growing, harvesting, and preparing organically grown foods. Over a course of 24 weeks, the curriculum cultivates healthy change by:
- Increasing young children’s preferences for wholesome foods
- Promoting healthy eating at school and home
- Reducing the risks and issues associated with childhood obesity
Six target vegetables are the focus of the exploration and discovery in each of four components:
- Organic gardening
- Sensory exploration
- Cooking and recipe development
- Family involvement