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What is Little Food Explorers?

Little Food Explorers is a program that helps toddlers and pre-schoolers develop positive feelings about food and eating. Eating a wide variety of foods is a part of eating well, but young children are often unsure about trying new foods. At this age children are still learning to be comfortable with new foods and it can take many exposures – as many as ten to fifteen or more – until the food feels familiar enough for them to be comfortable trying it. 

Little Food Explorers is a guided exploration for 4 different foods and offers a fun, structured approach to exploring foods with young children as they learn how to become familiar with new foods.  

Young child engaging with Little Food Explorers program materials

About the Little Food Explorers program.

Little Food Explorers provide Early Childhood Educators with a guided exploration of four foods (beans, apples, oats, and milk) through a program guide, recipes, picture books, and parent resources. 

Little Food Explorers program materials

Little Food Explorers program materials

How to take a Little Food Explorers workshop.

In-person and live-virtual workshops are available, by email request or filling in the form below.

Minimum number of attendees at workshops can be discussed at the time of booking.  

About the Little Food Explorers workshop.

Participation in the workshop will provide educators with:

  • Information on Little Food Explorers program materials and the philosophy behind the program
  • Strategies to help toddlers and pre-schoolers develop positive feelings about food and eating
  • Lesson plans and experiential activities to help introduce toddlers and pre-schoolers to foods
  • A summary of the feeding responsibility for parents and caregivers
  • A certificate of attendance

Little Food Explorers learning outcomes.

After completing the program it is expected that students will:

  • Identify a wide variety of foods
  • Demonstrate a willingness to try new foods
  • Use goal-setting to continue to try new foods
  • Demonstrate an understanding of the importance of eating a wide variety of foods.

How to teach the Little Food Explorers program.

To teach the program and receive the materials, attendance at a workshop led by a BC Dairy registered dietitians is required. Workshops last 90 minutes. All workshops and program materials are free of charge and can be ordered yearly at no additional cost. Workshops are available for ECEs and early years providers, either in-person or virtually. Contact us to request a workshop.

Organize a workshop for your childcare centre.

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Re-order your Little Food Explorers program materials.

Create or access your BC Dairy portal account to re-order program materials and access additional resources.