One in five children ages 2-5 in the US is overweight or obese, putting them at risk for chronic diseases later in life. Living Healthy in Washington County is partnering with local childcare centers and preschools to promote healthy habits for over 900 infants and young children through three programs - breastfeeding support, physical activity training (CATCH), and nutrition education (LANA). The LANA program introduces children to fruits and vegetables through stories and activities and incorporates these foods into meals and snacks.

1. An early start to lifelong health
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) estimates that one in five children, ages two
to five in the United States is overweight or obese.
Without intervention, those children are likely to
become overweight or obese adults, putting them
at risk for a variety of chronic diseases.
Living Healthy in Washington County is partnering
with childcare centers and preschools around the
county to provide support and training for staff to
create a healthy start for more than 900 infants and
young children in their care.
Three specific programs and trainings are
available: breastfeeding support, including the
health benefits of breastfeeding, ways to support
the breastfeeding mother, and safe storage and
feeding of mother’s milk to babies; Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), a tool that nurtures
a love of physical activity so that children are motivated to walk, run, jump, dance, and move their whole
bodies while playing and having fun; and Learning About Nutrition through Activities (LANA), a program
that introduces children to the wonders of eating fruits and vegetables through teacher-led stories and
activities, and the inclusion of these foods into meals and snacks.
Living Healthy in Washington County is a program of the Washington County
Department of Public Health and Environment. It is supported by the
Statewide Health Improvement Program, Minnesota Department of Health.
Healthy eating
Tools and training to
help children learn about
how fruits and vegetables
can be colorful, tasty,
and nutritious.
Breastfeeding support
Training, information, and
support to help childcare
providers safely store and
serve breast milk to infants in
their care.
Physical activity
Training and support
to help child care
providers add fun
physical activities into
the childcare day.
Three ways to help launch healthy lives:
10/2015
651-430-6655 | TTY 651-430-6246 | PHE@co.washington.mn.us | www.livinghealthywc.org

2. Preschoolers get an early start on fruits and veggies
Living Healthy in Washington County is a program of the Washington County
Department of Public Health and Environment. It is supported by the
Statewide Health Improvement Program, Minnesota Department of Health.
The preschoolers in Ms. Christy’s class at Peace of Mind Early
Education Center in Woodbury know all about kiwi, peppers,
tomatoes, and lots of other fruits and vegetables. They’ve learned
about them from their friend Lana the Iguana, mascot and teaching
puppet for the Learning About Nutrition through Activities (LANA)
program.
Christy Moen and other teachers at Peace of Mind are using the
LANA program with their students after training offered through
Living Healthy in Washington County.
The LANA program introduces children to a variety of fruits and
vegetables and teaches them that nutritious foods help them grow
healthy and strong.
Each week, teachers utilize the LANA curriculum to introduce a new fruit or vegetable and that food
is incorporated into many different areas of the students’ school day.
Students have the chance to sample the food and to work with it in an
age-appropriate food-preparation project. The childcare center’s chef
includes the fruits and vegetables into meals served at lunch and snack
time.
There is also a take-home packet for students to bring to their parents.
It provides information and recipes for meals they can make at home
that incorporate the fruit or vegetable of the week. Christy says parents
frequently share with her that they’ve used some of the recipes at
dinnertime.
Overall, Christy feels the program has been a success for her students.
She frequently uses Lana the Iguana discussion time to talk with her
students about what they had for dinner and to encourage them to choose
healthy foods.
Christy Moen and her puppet friend, Lana the
Iguana talk about fruits and vegetables with
her class of three-year-old students at Peace
of Mind Early Education Center in Woodbury
651-430-6655 | TTY 651-430-6246 | PHE@co.washington.mn.us | www.livinghealthywc.org
10/2015