One of my favorite programs to teach youth is LEAP. LEAP stands for Literacy, Eating and Activity for Preschool/Primary. This program was designed to read a book, do a small physical activity, and try a healthy snack to reinforce nutrition education.  

I have had the privilege for the 2022-2023 school year to work with both North and South Livingston Elementary School’s pre-school classes. As the new SNAP-Ed assistant in Livingston County the pre-school teachers contacted me over the summer to schedule nutrition education classes once a month throughout the whole school year. 

Each month I would come to each one of the four classes to read a LEAP book with a certain theme. The children were taught MyPlate, other nutrition education and even hygiene. We would then do an activity, wash our hands and then they would get to try a new healthy snack.  

Children in pre-school are starting to develop certain eating habits and my job is to show them eating healthily is the way to go. Our first lesson the children got to try mangos. I worked with 66 preschoolers between both schools and only a small number of those have had it. Now they ask when I am going to bring more. Having them ask when I get to the classroom what snack they get to try next is a great feeling because I know they are willing to find out what they like next.