CELEBRATE Feeding!

Coaching in Early Learning Environments to Build a Responsive Approach To Eating and Feeding

The CELEBRATE Feeding research project created a collaborative partnership between our Early Years Nutrition Coaches and Early Childhood Educators in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island. The project aimed to strengthen responsive eating and feeding environments in child care centres across the Maritimes. Meet the Team >

 What is Responsive Feeding?

Responsive feeding is about more than just food. It creates a positive, inclusive environment that supports children's learning and healthy development.

Responsive feeding helps children:

  • Explore new foods at mealtimes and during play

  • Learn to enjoy a variety of foods

  • Recognize when they are hungry and full

  • Develop their own food preferences

  • Learn about others' food customs and preferences

  • Celebrate all foods

Children and caregivers have different jobs at meals and snacks. Child care centres choose the menu, provide a variety of foods, and set the meal and snack schedule. Children decide how much of each food to eat. They might eat a lot or little, or even none at all. They might decide to try all the available foods or only one or two items.

Benefits of Participation to Child Care Centres

  • Practical solutions to support children at mealtimes, tailored to the needs of your centre

  • Reduced chaos and stress at meals

  • Helping children develop healthy eating skills and a positive relationship with food

  • Ongoing support from Early Years Nutrition Coaches

  • Responsive feeding training and resources

  • Professional development opportunity and honoraria

Responsive Feeding Framework

CELEBRATE Feeding used a responsive feeding framework to think about the relationship between a child and their caregiver regarding food and feeding. Responsive feeding means supporting fullness and hunger cues, enabling food exploration, and demonstrating openness to a variety of foods and feeding practices. 

Study Info
 

Supporting Child Care Centres

The CELEBRATE Feeding project supported child care centres by providing hands-on coaching, professional development opportunities, and collaborative resource selection. The goal of responsive feeding is to foster the joy of eating through an enriched feeding environment that celebrates diversity and inclusion.

Resources