Family Documents
Child Nutrition Classes
We hear you! Families are busy and that can make it difficult to attend in-person classes. At the same time, we know how critical healthy nutrition is for child development. That’s why we’ve curated a list of online, self-paced courses from reputable sources, like Stanford University. EVCCA offers one in-person cooking class per year to support families in applying knowledge about child nutrition they gain from these courses. Check out the listings below and talk with your Site Director to learn more about our next in-person cooking class!
Child Nutrition and Cooking (Stanford University)
Eating patterns that begin in childhood affect health and well-being across the lifespan. The culture of eating has changed significantly in recent decades, especially in parts of the world where processed foods dominate our dietary intake. This course examines contemporary child nutrition and the impact of the individual decisions made by each family. The health risks associated with obesity in childhood are also discussed. Participants will learn what constitutes a healthy diet for children and adults and how to prepare simple, delicious foods aimed at inspiring a lifelong celebration of easy home-cooked meals. This course will help prepare participants to be the leading health providers, teachers and parents of the present and future. The text and other material in this course may include the opinion of the specific instructor and are not statements of advice, endorsement, opinion, or information of Stanford University.
Food Sustainability, Mindful Eating, and Healthy Cooking (Stanford University)
This is a three course series (specialization). This specialization is intended for anyone seeking to improve their health, protect our planet and build a stronger, more positive relationship with food. The courses aim to improve knowledge about the relationships between our health, our food, how our food is made, and our environment, while inspiring us to make decisions that will protect our health and the health of the environment. After completing the specialization a learner with no previous food, nutrition, sustainable, mindful eating, or cooking skills will be able to 1. evaluate contemporary food choices for their impact on both human health and planetary sustainability, 2. achieve stepwise personal behavior change towards healthier, more sustainable eating, 3. prepare healthy, delicious meals using simple techniques and readily available ingredients, and 4. incorporate into their lives, the practice of food mindfulness, dietary moderation, varied meal composition and self-compassion with regard to their eating behaviors and food choices. Together, these skills and competencies will facilitate a lifelong, positive and health-promoting relationship with food for each individual learner and for their loved ones.
Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
Nutrition and Lifestyle in Pregnancy offers an overview of the latest research findings and international recommendations on a variety of nutrition-related aspects and outcomes of pregnancy. Ensuring a healthy nutritional status and lifestyle prior to and during pregnancy is one of the best ways to help support the healthy growth and development of the unborn child. We will look at how a healthy diet and lifestyle should ideally be achieved prior to conception and provide recommendations for pre-conception counseling of women.
We will also look at the nutrient recommendations for a healthy pregnancy to ensure optimal maternal and fetal outcomes as well as focus on the most common nutrition-related pregnancy complications; obesity and gestational diabetes.
Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes (Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München)
Ensuring adequate nutrition is essential for infants to reach their full potential, as early-life nutritional imbalances and deficiencies may result in detrimental and often irreversible adverse health consequences. “Breastfeeding and Adequate Substitutes” focuses on the important aspects of human milk composition, human lactation, breastfeeding practices, and the use of breastmilk substitutes. In addition to the theoretical and practical aspects of infant nutrition, we also provide the latest research findings and international recommendations in this field in order to improve the health of children around the world. Additionally, you will get a glimpse of various infant feeding experiences of parents from different parts of the world.
Guidance to Keep Newborn Babies Safe and Healthy (University of Colorado)
In this course, you will learn some key things that parents will need to do to keep their babies safe and healthy. The Guidance to Keep Newborn Babies Safe and Healthy Course will teach you best practices for how your baby will spend most of their day: eating, sleeping, and sometimes crying. Parents need to understand how to optimize nutrition, how to create a safe and happy sleep environment, how to safely transport their baby in their car, and how to respond to their baby’s crying.
A newborn baby is an amazing beautiful life filled with hope. There is so much that goes into making sure that babies are born healthy, and so much more to think about after they are born. Whether you are in the healthcare field, or even a parent, this course is the perfect educational opportunity for you to keep newborn babies healthy in the days and weeks after they are born!
County and State-wide Resources
Colorado Learning & Development Guidelines
The Early Learning and Development Guidelines describe the path of a child’s learning and development from birth to 8 years old.
The Guidelines are designed so that everyone who cares for young children can play an important part in giving them a strong start. The Guidelines are based on research and widely accepted strategies, offering tips on learning, health and physical development, social and emotional development, language, literacy, numeracy, logic and reasoning, and other subject-specific learning.
The Guidelines are available in both English and Spanish languages. Be sure to also check out the PLAYbook, a companion piece to the Guidelines.
The PLAYbook contains information and activities that anyone caring for young children – including parents, siblings, guardians, grandparents, babysitters, neighbors, and family friends – can use to prepare children to be successful when entering kindergarten. The PLAYbook contains activities and information that are designed to get you thinking about building the child’s skills in the locations where you spend time together, using what you may already have around your home through play. The PLAYbook is also available in English, Spanish, Arabic, Karen (Burmese), and Somali.
Eagle County Children, Childcare, & Early Childhood Education
Eagle County Government’s portal to all human services that can help serve you and your family, including CCCAP, TANF, and Early Intervention.