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The Very Hungry Caterpillar
"The Very Hungry Caterpillar" is a classic children’s story that I remember reading when I was a child and one that is still popular with children today, due in large part to the fuzzy main character’s voracious appetite. Throughout the story, the very hungry caterpillar devours a growing number of apples, pears, plums, strawberries, and oranges- until the weekend, when he decides to satiate himself by consuming a feast of a different nature! The young caterpillar changes his health conscious approach to meals and eats 5 desserts, 2 types of meat, a slice of cheese, a pickle, and a slice of watermelon. Satisfied, on Sunday he can eat only a single green leaf before falling asleep and awakening as a big, beautiful butterfly.
Carle’s familiar, colorful fable is a great way to introduce children to different types of produce, especially as the season changes. For picky eaters, it can also be used as an encouragement to get them to try new foods, just like the very hungry caterpillar did in the story! It’s also a great way to talk to older children about balancing healthy foods like fruit, meat, and cheese with sweet treats like cupcakes and pie.
After Reading this Book to Your Child:
- Each week try one of the fruits either fresh or frozen that the very hungry caterpillar ate.
- Use the book as a tool to teach your child to recognize healthy meals and snack options, and encourage them to come up with their own nutritious meals!
- Together draw out your own day of meals and snacks and see if any of the foods they’ve eaten are the same as the very hungry caterpillar.
Alexandria Hardy is a Registered Dietitian employed by Diablo Clinical Research, where she provides nutrition education to clinical research subjects and works on various marketing and nutrition communications. She earned her undergraduate degree in Dietetics and Fitness/Nutrition/Health from Purdue University and completed her internship in Indianapolis, IN. To learn more about her professional background and experiences, please visit http://www.visualcv.com/alexandriahardy.
