The Dr. Yum Project

Word is getting out about the impact of Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure! We were thrilled to see this review in the Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior by Lynn Brann, Associate Professor and Chair, Departments of Nutrition & Food Studies and Exercise Science at David B. Falk College of Sport & Human Dynamics at Syracuse University.

We recently met these two amazing early childhood educators from the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. They shared their love and enthusiasm for Dr. Yum's Preschool Food Adventure, and it warmed our hearts! YMCA of the USA (National Resource Office)

Want to learn more about evidence-based Dr. Yum's Preschool Food Adventure? Join us on Wednesday, May 8. https://lnkd.in/enNQQvpZ

Collaboration is the name of the game! Mrs. Cannon and I had a blast surprising these curious Head Start students at Martha's Table as a celebration of the District of Columbia Association for the Education of Young Children (DCAEYC)'s Month of the Young Child. They had a blast exploring new foods with all their senses: chopping and tasting cucumbers, mangos, watermelon, and red peppers, zesting, juicing, and smelling limes, and tearing and smelling basil. After all that fun, they served themselves our watermelon salsa, giving it a unanimous Super Yum.

Such a pleasure working with the wonderful Dahlia Rimmon on this article for U.S. News & World Report !

Decades of research have demonstrated the positive impact of Pre-K, yet some critics argue that much of this evidence is old and that the impacts of modern-day programs are much smaller and unlikely to be sustained over time. “This discussion ignores the large and rigorous body of evidence we do have on what works to strengthen Pre-K quality,” explains Research and Impact Officer Meghan McCormick in her latest op-ed for New America. “Numerous studies have found that the field’s best bet is to implement evidence-based curricula that explicitly target specific learning domains like math, language, literacy, and social-emotional skills, following a pre-specified scope and sequence, supported by training and coaching aligned to those curricula.” Here, Meghan explores the existing evidence on what works, urging states and districts to follow the research when investing in early childhood education.

We had so much fun presenting and exhibiting at the National CACFP Sponsors Association Child Nutrition Conference. It was great to share my perspective as a pediatrician on the epidemic of picky eating after the pandemic and how cooking with kids in the classroom can provide children with a joyful experience with food. We were thrilled to see our friend, Dr. Caree Cotwright, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity at the USDA, who is doing an amazing job promoting MyPlate and making it a household name. We also caught up with Stacey McDaniel, Director of Strategy & Quality Practices ‑ Anti‑HungerNetwork Experience at The Y (YMCA) of the USA, who gave us some heartwarming feedback from their 14-site pilot with Dr. Yum’s Preschool Food Adventure. It was great to see Amy Warne from Partnership for a Healthier America and run into so many other friends like Virginia C. Stage from ECU who are doing amazing work in the area of childhood nutrition.  We were honored to be included in Providers Choice, Inc.'s STEM in the Kitchen breakout session, too. One moment we can't forget is meeting two amazing early childhood educators from the YMCA in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. They shared their love and enthusiasm for our curriculum and it warmed our hearts! ❤️ What an uplifting conference! 🍏🍐🍉🫐🍒🥭🥬🥑🥕 #ncnc24 #dryum #cookingwithkids #pediatrician#kidseatrealfood #kitchenhacks #homemade #touchpoints#babyfood #familymeals #gardeningwithkids #farmtoece#preschoolactivities #cacfp #headstart #ymca#nutritioneducation #nutritionresearch

We were so honored to be members of the Food & Nutrition Innovation Institute at The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University. It was three days of out-of-the-box thinking, seeding collaborations and partnerships with nutrition leaders, emotional and stirring performances, and creating friendships over incredible meals. What an experience!

From anxiety to cancer, the evidence against ultra-processed food piles up. Recent news stories continue to point to studies about the connection between ultra-processed foods and illness. We are turning the tide. Through interactions with families in my private pediatric practice, the Dr. Yum Project has developed three proven tools. 

When Melanie Potock and I wrote the first edition of the "Dr. Yum's Preschool Food Adventure" curriculum, we didn't realize how useful it would be for feeding therapists. I love this conversation with Melanie and three unique therapists who describe their experience using the program to help children with feeding challenges.