Food first: Beginning steps towards children's sustainable education

Abstract

In this new chapter for the second edition, Nadine McCrea, a specialist in early childhood food education, advances a strong case for why food should be considered a fundamental aspect of learning in ECEfS. Nadine links ideas about children's health and wellbeing to the broader topic of living sustainably. She discusses the importance of early childhood educators working collaboratively with children and their families to support food learning and food experiences that build engagement with the natural world and understandings of the socio-cultural foundations of food. Nadine emphasises that critical, transformative approaches to early learning about food offer ways for young children to be empowered future decision makers about matters of importance to their lives.