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.

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.

Failure to adequately wash hands is a major cause of infectious diseases. Individuals who practice poor personal hygiene while preparing food may spread diseases such as hepatitis A, salmonellosis, and shigellosis. Studies indicate that one-third (33%) of people do not wash their hands after using the restroom. This publication addresses the proper way to wash your hands.

Germination of wheat within the grain head before harvest is called pre-harvest sprouting (PHS). Periods of prolonged rainfall and high humidity after the grain has ripened and before it can be harvested can contribute to PHS, which can be thought of as a premature germination.

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

Volunteer teachers are important to Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE). Volunteers convey information on a variety of topics by teaching or assisting with programs. Although there are many methods for delivering content, this publication will focus on a selection of teaching techniques to foster dialogue.

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.

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!

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.

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

Colorectal cancer is the fourth most commonly diagnosed cancer in the U.S. Despite that, colorectal cancer is preventable, and we have good screening tests to detect this cancer early.

This toolkit provides an overview of facilitation techniques to promote behavior change, along with specific instructions and resources for educators to learn and apply skills necessary to implement them.

Oven Fried Fish is a delicious alternative to high fat fried fish. As part of the From Our Home to Yours video series, this food demonstration shows how to make this healthy fish recipe.

Extension professionals show you how to make a delicious and healthy salad, Autumn Salad. See more healthy recipes at the YouTube channel, "From Our Home to Yours".

Extension professionals show you how to make Crispy Oven-Baked Chicken. See more healthy recipes at the YouTube channel, "From Our Home to Yours".

This delicious salad recipe brought to you by Virginia Cooperative Extension is a delicious way to get your recommended daily dose of fruits and vegetables. Colorful and tasty, it brightens up any dinner setting.

Learn about the history of the turkey as part of the traditional Thanksgiving meal in this issue of the Buzz, Body, & Bites Newslette. Get a chuckle out of our Thanksgiving jokes and check out the delicious Holiday Root Vegetable Roast recipe.

This issue of the Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletter provides practical guidance on financial management. It also includes a great soup recipe, and recommendations for how to get physical activity.

This issue of Buzz, Body, & Bites aligns with the National Nutrition Month theme of "Fueling ourselves for the Future". The issue discusses ways to consume healthy foods in a sustainable way.

This issue of the Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletter provides information about gardening, and the benefits to health and quality of life. It also includes a recipe for parmesan asparagus, which is an early vegetable.

This issue of the Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletter discusses how to eat more locally grown foods, and the benefits to your community.

Extension professionals and volunteers interact with kids in a variety of programming. Youth who engage in mindy-body practices experience a number of health benefits ranging from reduced anxiety and stress to improved mood and academic performance. This document helps Extension professionals and volunteers lead mind-body practices with youth. There are materials that give background to the approach as well as structured exercises.

Newsletter handout for Flourishing in the Garden Program that combines mindfulness, movement, nutrition, and connection.

This is a step by step guide to designing an exercise class for older adults with specific modifications or cautions to consider.

This issue of the monthly Buzz, Body, & Bites Newsletter for actively aging adults contains information on how to maintain intellectual wellness neuroplasticity, and connection throughout life.

In this issue: Composting At Home, Summer Peach Drink, Exercise Safety in the Heat

The Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletters are informative and provide practical diet and physical activity recommendations that increase enjoyment in life.

The Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletters are informative and provide practical diet and physical activity recommendations that increase enjoyment in life.

The Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletters are informative and provide practical diet and physical activity recommendations that increase enjoyment in life.

The Buzz, Body, & Bites newsletters are informative and provide practical diet and physical activity recommendations that increase enjoyment in life.

In this issue: Introduction to the 8 dimensions of wellness, Programs that Support the Dimensions of Wellness, Collards with Pineapple & Ginger, and Exercise: Wide Leg Squat

In this issue: DASH for Your Heart, What to Eat on the DASH Diet, Apple Nachos for One, Standing Leg Curl

In this issue: Coping with a Money C.R.U.N.C.H., Financial Health and The Dimensions of Wellness, Vegetable quesadilla, Exercise: Overhead Press

In this issue: Qigong for Healthy Aging: The Cleaning Breath, Spiritual wellness, Lemon Basil Ginger Ale, Exercise: Bicep Curl

In this issue: Creating Beautiful Spaces to Enhance Well-being and Healthy Aging, Environmental Wellness, Fresh Berry Caprese Salad, Exercise: Knee Extension

In this issue: Social Wellness for a Healthy Lifestyle, Social Wellness, Couscous Chicken, Exercise: Wall Angels

In this issue: Intellectual Wellness, Neuroplasticity, and Connection; Opportunities for Lifelong Learning; Beet & White Bean Salad; Exercise: Wall Squats

In this issue: Origin of Pumpkins in Halloween and other Tales, HISTORY OF HALLOWEEN, Diane Sutton’s Pecan Pumpkin Pie, Fall Prevention Exercise: Wide Leg Stance

In this issue: Emotional Wellness, Emotional Wellness Checklist, Thanksgiving Turkey Tips, Fall Prevention Exercise: Single Leg Lift

In this issue: How to Build Resilience in Your Life, 6 Strategies to Build Resilience, Peanut Butter Caramel Corn, Fall Prevention Exercise: Toe Stand

Conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) is an essential fatty acid. CLA supplements have shown many health benefits, including weight loss, improved insulin sensitivity, and reduced risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. This article provided updated research on benefits and concerns of CLA.

Colorectal cancer rates are declining in people over the age of 50, however there is an alarming trend of rising colorectal cancer rates in younger adults. Kristi Seay, MSN, RN, CGRN, an endoscopy nurse with 30 years experience, provides an overview of trends related to colorectal cancer rates in people under 50 years of age, symptoms, potential causes, recommendations for action, and case study examples in this webinar.

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