Fresh From Florida Kids!

The program's goal is to reduce the risk of obesity in young children. Healthy eating habits are essential for a lifetime of good health and development.

Research suggests that taste preferences and eating habits are fully developed by the time a child is three. Children learn behaviors from their environment and their experiences, and  parents ultimately control the development of their eating patterns. Therefore, it is important to provide a healthy environment as a solid foundation.

One of the easiest ways to encourage healthy habits is by creating healthy meals for the family. Preparing homemade food is easy, fresh, flavorful, nutritious and cheap! With one ingredient and a couple of preparation steps, baby food is naturally easy to make. Homemade food also tastes fantastic and allows parents to control what their baby eats.

Program Overview

Many of the unhealthy eating habits of today’s adults were developed in early childhood.  Infants and young children who are exposed primarily to processed foods that are high in sugar, salt or fat often favor these types of foods as they grow older. A diet of unhealthy foods can lead to severe health problems later in life.

Having a healthy child is important, so the Department of Agriculture created “Fresh from Florida Kids.”  Based on scientific research that proves lifelong taste preferences and eating habits are directly linked to what and how we eat in the first three years, the program encourages the early introduction of a variety of fruits and vegetables in children’s diets to promote lifelong healthy eating. Children’s palates and preferences for certain foods are mostly learned so the program’s objective is to teach and give parents the necessary tools to provide healthy foods for their families.

To learn more about the Fresh from Florida Kids program, please click here

How to participate

The program is divided into three phases over 2½ years. Each phase represents developmental periods in a child's eating behavior

  Phase 1: Includes children 6 to 12 months of age who are just beginning to eat solid foods.
 
  Phase 2: Designed for children 12 to 24 months of age who are starting to eat finger foods and who are learning how to eat on their own.

  Phase 3: Focuses on children 24 to 36 months of age by reinforcing healthy eating choices for toddlers.

At the time of enrollment, parents will receive a bag with material and tools to use and implement throughout that phase. At the end of each phase, parents will fill out a short survey describing their child's and families experience. In exchange for completed surveys, parents will receive the next phase bag of materials along with retail coupons and other incentives to encourage continued participation.

Participants do not have to be a Healthy Start client in order to enroll in the program however, the child must be between the ages of 4 to 8 months at the time of enrollment.  

To sign up for the program or to contact us please click here