Rapid growth and development occurs during the preschool years, ages 2 through 5. A child grows about 2 to 3 inches and gains 4 to 5 pounds each year. Proper nutrition and opportunities to play and be physically active are critical to ensuring your child grows properly, learns to enjoy nutritious foods, and adopts healthy behaviors for maximum development and lifelong health. This publication covers various topics of interest to parents and caregivers of young children and gives an overview of optimal feeding practices.

There is no one healthy weight for all children. Children come in different sizes and shapes. Some children are naturally petite. Others have bigger builds, larger bones, or greater muscle mass that can result in a heavier weight. They also grow at different rates. Any weight that supports growth, learning, development, fitness, and well-being can be a healthy weight.

If your child is overweight, he or she is not alone. Overweight and obesity are growing at epidemic rates among American children and teens. The rate has tripled in 30 years and is expected to rise. In 2012, 18 percent of children ages 6 to 11 and 20 percent of adolescents ages 12 to 19 were considered obese.

You may already know that muscles are made up of protein, but many other important parts of the human body need protein, too. That’s why protein is so important for normal growth and development.

How do you get your family to the table and keep them healthy? Slash the fat. Shake the salt habit. Replace the sugar, fat, and salt in your favorite foods with spices and herbs. They will keep your family coming back to the table for healthy and tasty meals.

Eating well is important for you and your family’s health. Unfortunately, food is often very expensive and can be difficult to buy with a limited income, especially during a crisis.

Consumers enjoy eating a variety of seafood and can find many choices of fresh as well as frozen seafood in the refrigerated and freezer cases of grocery stores.Abigail Villalba, Extension Specialist, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center Michael Jahncke, Professor, Food Science and Technology, and Director, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center Michael Schwarz, Extension Specialist, Virginia Seafood Agricultural Research and Extension Center David Kuhn, Assistant Professor, Food Science and Technology, Virginia Tech Alisha Farris, Extension Specialist, Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech

Teach your kids the building blocks of a balanced meal and a healthy life with food and physical activity. It's a lesson they won't forget!

Want your child to eat more fruits and veggies? Learn how to make fruits and veggies fun while shopping, cooking, and eating them together.

Want to have a relaxing meal time with your family? Learn how to enjoy each other more and get the most out of your time together.

Food Safety is important for keeping you and your little ones healthy and safe. Learn how to keep a clean kitchen and how to help your kids be germ-free!

Find ways to be active with your family no matter the weather. Help your kids to grow-up strong and healthy by moving every day.

The promotion of different “diets” or diet programs has become rampant in our modern society, with many making erroneous claims about weight loss and healthy lifestyles. It can seem that each time you hop on the computer or catch the news a groundbreaking way to shed pounds and get the perfect body is being touted.

Sports drinks were developed to help replenish fluid, electrolytes, and carbohydrates lost during long, hard exercise, sometimes performed in extreme temperatures. For example, participating in endurance cycling, marathon training, competitive soccer and tennis matches, and football during the summer months. While sports drinks provide benefits under such circumstances, youth are consuming sports drinks after minimal physical activity, during routine sports practices, and sometimes even outside of sports participation.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2011) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart and moving more. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2012) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

This video is part of a series showing helpful strategies for eating smart, moving more and slimming down. These videos were created by dietetic students in The Department of Human Nutrition, Foods and Exercise's Communicating with Food course (Spring 2013) for use in the Family Nutrition Program.

Energy drinks are types of beverages that contain stimulants and are aimed at improving mental alertness and concentration and providing physical stimulation, such as optimizing athletic performance. They are different from sports drinks, which generally do not contain stimulants.

A serving size is what is recommended on a Nutrition Facts label, but what you actually eat is called your “portion.” Portions served at restaurants have gotten larger over the years. Here’s an easy guide to using your hand to estimate a smart size portion.

Fruits and vegetables are good for you. They are full of fiber, vitamins, minerals, and thousands of powerful things called antioxidants and phytochemicals. These things give fruits and vegetables their colors, flavors, and smells. When you eat antioxidants and phytochemicals, they also help to protect you from many different diseases, like heart disease and cancer.

Are you stressed out about cooking dinner for your children? Here are a few quick, simple tips you can use to cut down your stress and the time it takes to make your meal.

Don't like cooking? Don't know where to start? This video can get you started with some practical ideas and show how it can be fun. Start simple and include your family!

Mornings are hectic, but your child can still eat a healthy breakfast that will keep them going throughout the day! This video will explain how you can make a healthy grab-and-go breakfast a part of your morning.

Looking for ways to help your kids eat healthier? This video is a great example of how you can use games to spark your kids interest in better food choices.

Cooking with your child can feel like a mess. Watch as this mom learns some helpful tips to make cooking with her daughter fun, simple, and mess free.

With a little planning and creativity, you can save time and money by packing healthy lunches.

Cooking with kids builds life skills for a healthy future. This video gives a basic guide on how to involve your kids in the cooking process.

Think home-cooked meals are a waste of time and energy? Think again. This video shows quick and simple methods for cooking meals, as well as different food options your family can enjoy.

There are more than 300 energy drink and energy shot products available in the United States, and of these, Red Bull, Monster, Rockstar, 5-Hour Energy, Stacker 2 6-Hour Power, and private labels are the topselling brands. Manufacturers have now shifted their marketing focus from athletes to young adults, and these drinks are being aggressively marketed on college campuses. Thirty-four percent of 18- to 24-year-olds use energy drinks regularly as a means of improving performance, endurance, and alertness before and during exercise; staying awake in demanding situations; and compensating for loss of sleep, especially during exams.

Lung cancer is the third most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death among both men and women in the United States. One in thirteen (1/13) men and one in sixteen women (1/16) will be diagnosed with lung cancer during their lifetime.1 The risk of dying from lung cancer is 23 times higher among male smokers, and 13 times higher among‐ female smokers, compared to non-smokers.

Originating in China, soybeans have been cultivated for more than 5,000 years. They were introduced to America in the 19th century, and since the 1940s, they have become one of the most important economic crops in this country.

Do you find it difficult making time for exercise in your busy week? Taking care of your family and working can make regular physical activity seem unrealistic. Here are some ideas to help fit exercise into your busy schedule.

Tips for family-friendly ways shift to eating more whole grains everyone will love.

Carol, mom of four, makes small changes to lower sodium in her family's meals.

It is easy to make simple shifts in your normal meals to lower the amount of saturated fat while keeping the food delicious.

Interested in ways to add protein into your diet while reducing cost and fat? Then look beyond just meat!

Cooking with oils is a great heart-healthy alternative to solid fats like butter and margarine.

Mom makes the healthy choice to switch to low-fat dairy, and her family doesn't even notice the difference.

A young mother describes three ways to incorporate fruits in different forms into her family's daily routine while including her children in the preparation process.

You might be surprised to find out just how much sugar is hidden in the foods we love. Learn what to look for when reading nutrition labels and simple ways to eat smart by limiting added sugar.

Think home-cooked meals are a waste of time and energy? Think again. This video shows quick and simple methods for cooking meals, as well as different food options your family can enjoy.

Do you have a hard time getting your kids away from the TV and moving more every day? Try these strategies for teaching children to enjoy being active as a family.

About 1 in 8 women will find out they have breast cancer at some point in their life. Except for skin cancer, breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in the U.S., accounting for nearly 29% of newlydiagnosed cancers. One case of breast cancer isdiagnosed every two minutes, and one womandies of breast cancer every 13 minutes in the U.S

Whole-grains are great for you and your kids. Learn how to tell if your grains are whole-grain and ways to add more whole-grains to your day. If you eat whole-grains, your kids will too!

Theres no power like the power of a mother! Use your Mom Power for good by helping your little ones get enough milk every day to grow up big and strong.

A mom and daughter show how easy it is to eat more veggies by making some small and simple changes in their daily lives.