by Kelly Honer, Regional Director PA | NJ | DE | NY

Nutrition is more than a daily requirement. It is the foundation for growth and development. In early childhood, nutrition plays a central role in brain development, learning, and emotional regulation. By age five, a child’s brain is approximately 90% developed, with the most rapid growth occurring in the first 1,000 days of life. During this period, consistent access to key nutrients helps build the architecture for cognitive function, behavior, and long-term health. In early care and education programs, nutrition is not an added service; it is part of the developmental environment itself.

Childcare Plays a Major Role in Daily Nutrition

Children in full-day childcare often receive 50% to 75% of their daily nutrition while in care.

That means the meals and snacks provided in childcare settings:

• Contribute significantly to daily nutrient intake
• Influence energy levels, focus, and behavior
• Help establish long-term eating patterns

Nutrition Directly Impacts Learning and Behavior

Balanced meals and snacks support:

• Sustained attention and engagement
• Stable energy throughout the day
• Stronger emotional regulation

In contrast, inconsistent or low-quality nutrition can contribute to:

• Fatigue or hyperactivity
• Difficulty concentrating
• Increased irritability or behavioral disruptions

When nutrition is consistent, classrooms tend to run more smoothly, with fewer disruptions and more productive learning time.

Early Nutrition Shapes Lifelong Habits

Childcare environments also play a key role in shaping long-term eating behaviors.

Repeated exposure to nutritious foods in a structured setting helps children:

• Develop acceptance of a wider variety of foods
• Build healthier eating habits over time
• Form positive relationships with food

These early experiences influence not just what children eat today, but how they approach food throughout their lives.

A Core Part of Quality Childcare

The evidence is clear: nutrition is directly tied to development, and childcare providers deliver a significant portion of it.

When nutrition is intentional, consistent, and well-structured, it strengthens every aspect of a childcare program, from daily behavior and engagement to long-term developmental outcomes.

To learn more about all the trainings Novick has to offer, check out our 2026 Training Calendar.

Current clients can sign up for this training, Fueling Futures: How Nutrition Shapes Growth, Learning, and Development, on the portal.