Last Fall, I posted about the Eric Carle classic book, The Very Hungry Caterpillar. Children’s books are a good way to teach about insects. Caterpillars, for anyone who has raised one to an adult butterfly, do grow very fast.
Now The Very Hungry Caterpillar will have a new role, teaching children about healthy eating. The Alliance for a Healthier Generation is conducting an anti-obesity campaign that uses the Very Hungry Caterpillar to teach about good foods, eating fruits and vegetables and minimizing sugar loaded snacks.
For those not familiar with the book, the caterpillar eats a number of healthy fruits through the first five days. On Saturday, our Very Hungry Caterpillar eats cake, ice cream, pie, cupcakes and other junk food and gets a stomach ache for his trouble. On Sunday, our binge eating Very Hungry Caterpillar consumed a nice green leaf and felt much better.
The new anti-obesity campaign comes with a guide for parents with tips for discussing healthy foods. Over 17000 copies of The Very Hungry Caterpillar will appear in pediatrician’s offices along with growth charts and a reading guide.
A Very Hungry Smartweed Caterpillar, Acronicta oblinita
As I child, this was by far my favorite book. I love that now it is being used as an anti-obesity campaign. It really is a very informational book concerning nutrition. I am raising a caterpillar now and have only had it for a little over a week. It has grown SO much, and having it portrayed in the book is a great way for kids to learn. I love this!
- Kate Steele
When I was younger, The Very Hungry Caterpillar was one of my favorite books to read. I never thought it would have messages that apply to me ten years later. This article does a great job paralleling the eating habits of a caterpillar to humans and showing that much of what humans do is rooted in nature. It is also great to know that the book is not only entertaining kids but is also educating adults about healthy eating and the consequences of a poor diet.