Reducing Picky Eating in Children: A Nutrition Education Seminar for Parents and Caregivers of Head Start Participants

Abstract

Northern Virginia Family Service (NVFS) is a Head Start program that aims to empower families with nutrition education in support of early childhood development. A child's growth and development are strongly influenced by foundational elements such as nutrition. Adequate intake of essential nutrients during early childhood is critical for promoting physical health and cognitive development. This project focuses on identifying strategies that help parents of children ages three to five years old in the Northern Virginia Family Service Head Start program who struggle with picky eating. Parents of enrolled children were surveyed to gather insights into the nutritional challenges they face at home. The seminar was tailored to address picky eating strategies that could be implemented at home while building confidence among parents to foster a positive meal environment. Following the session, a survey was disseminated to evaluate the effectiveness of the seminar. Although turnout was low, the outcomes were encouraging and suggest the potential for supporting other parents who face challenges with picky eating. Expanding this effort to additional Head Start parents could yield valuable insights and practical support for families dealing with picky eating behaviors.