Preschool Teachers' Professional Development Around Nutrition and Healthful Feeding Practices

• In Event: Crown Plaza Roundtable Session 8
  In Roundtable Session: The Early Childhood Workforce and Professional Development

Abstract

Childhood obesity continues to be a major issue in the United States and in response, researchers have begun to explore the role of early childhood educators’ nutrition and healthful feeding practices with the children in their care. For this project, approximately 1000 preschool teachers participated in a nationwide online survey regarding feeding practices and professional development. This poster highlights information regarding current implemented feeding practices, mealtime challenges, and current professional development received by preschool teachers, while also identifying needs of this group. This presentation provides new insight that could inform policies and practices related to professional development activities aimed at better equipping early childhood educators to implement evidenced-based best practices associated with healthful nutrition and feeding practices.

Authors

• Meghan Fisher, University of Illinois at Urbana - Champaign

• Brent A. McBride, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign