Nutrition Books for Kids: 50 Entertaining Reads
Build your home library with my list of entertaining nutrition books for kids. Get the best books on nutrition for kids and teach your child about food and healthy eating.
Children’s books about nutrition can teach kids important lessons about healthy eating, where food comes from, how to prepare it, and more.
As a pediatric nutritionist, I know that nutrition education is best learned over time, when a child shows interest, and in a pressure-free, non-lecture kind of way.
In this article, you’ll learn what I think makes a good nutrition book for kids, along with my list of 50 books about nutrition for kids.
A Reading List for Every Age
Parents ask me all the time for book recommendations, not only for themselves, but for their kids, too.
While I have an extensive reading list for parents, I decided it was time to create a list for kids.
(I also have more books in my store.)
You’ll find a variety of nutrition topics, from learning where food comes from to adventurous tales of characters overcoming picky eating.
You’ll find books for teaching nutrition, including board books for babies, preschool books about healthy eating, and healthy food books for kids.
There are even early readers for the elementary child. And a middle school book or two in there.
Easy Nutrition Education for Kids
Kids love to listen to stories and learn. They love a good character and a fun adventure.
As you, Mom and Dad, are the readers, books need to be tolerable for you, too.
After all, you’ll likely be reading these books over and over!
Look for books with:
- A compelling main character
- An interesting plot
- Humor
- Conflict resolution (For example, How does the character overcome a challenging situation like picky eating?)
- The opportunity for ongoing conversation with your child (What would you do if candy was all around you?)
- Interesting illustrations
- A message about nutrition
[For additional books and my review of them, listen to my podcast episode: TNC #96 Nutrition Books for Kids]
Check out my list of books about nutrition for kids below.
Let me know what you think!
Is there a book you love that’s not on this list?
50 Children's Books About Nutrition
We all want our kids to learn about nutrition in a fun, entertaining way. I've put together a reading list for kids including 50 children's books about nutrition to help you entertain and educate at the same time!
***I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.
Gregory, the Terrible Eater by Mitchell Sharmat
Gregory the goat loves fruits and vegetables instead of shoes, boxes and bottle caps. Join Gregory, the Terrible Eater as his parents try to get him to eat goat food.
Tops and Bottoms by Janet Stevens
One of my personal favorites, Tops and Bottoms tells a tale of trickery with vegetables as a backdrop.
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato is a tale of how one child helps another overcome picky eating, especially for eating tomatoes.
Blueberries for Sal by Robert McCloskey
Sal picks blueberries to can for the winter, but she runs into some trouble when she wanders off.
I Like Myself!
An ode to self-esteem, this book encourages kids to appreciate everything about themselves.
How to Feed Your Parents by Ryan Miller
Finicky mom and dad learn how to be more adventurous with food and try new foods after their daughter learns to cook.
How Did that Get in My Lunchbox? by Chris Butterworth
Learn where foods come from and how they are made before they appear in your lunchbox!
The Super Crew's Breakfast Cookbook for Kids by Melissa Halas
Meet the Super Crew and join them for recipes, adventures and fun nutrition activities every child will love.
Where Do Bananas Come From? by Arielle Lebovitz
Put your food explorer hat on and join fruit characters in search of delicious. Featured in episode #96 of The Nourished Child Podcast.
Where Does Broccoli Come From? by Arielle Lebovitz
Learn about 102 veggies, including fun facts, recipes and farm to table facts.
My Body's Superpower by Maryann Jacobsen
Body dissatisfaction skyrockets during puberty, compromising a girl's physical and emotional health. Now there's a book that helps girls see body changes as "superpowers," leading them to a healthy and satisfying life.
Eating the Alphabet by Lois Ehlert
Learn about fruits and vegetables from around the world in this board book.
We Are What We Eat by Kristy Hammill
Hilarious food characters teach kids how to eat and love all kinds of food.
N is for Nutrition by Todd Skene
Join a group of kids on a farm-to-table exploration as they learn about plant-based food and nutrition.
The Berenstain Bears & Too Much Junk Food by Stan and Jan Berenstain
Some of the Berenstain Bears are eating too much junk food and Mama Bear has to help them understand the importance of good food and exercise.
Nutrition Fun with Brocc and Roll by Connie Evers
A hands-on activity guide for children filled with activity sheets and discovery exercises.
Flint the Dragon Learns to Fly by Kendra Parks
Those picky eaters who won't even try anything green! Learn how super dragon rocket fuel helps Flint fly.
Pandas Love Pickles by Liz Lynch
An ABC book that explores animals, food, different cuisines and alphabet letters.
Why Should I Eat Well? by Claire Llewellyn
A book to help girls and boys understand why it's important to eat well.
Growing Vegetable Soup by Lois Ehlert
Start teaching your child about gardening with this picture book about vegetable gardening for young children.
D.W. The Picky Eater by Marc Brown
A family favorite for my children! Arthur's sister, D.W., acts out at a restaurant and her dining out days are over. Join her on the journey to better table manners so she can attend a special family event.
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs by Judi Barrett
Edible weather...a good thing or not? When it rains food, a town has to adapt to food everywhere!
Pancakes, Pancakes! by Eric Carle
Cutting the wheat and grinding the flour are just the beginning steps when Jack makes pancakes from scratch.
If You Give a Pig a Pancake by Laura Numeroff
When you give a pig a pancake it sets off a bunch of additional requests and consequences. This humorous book delighted my kids!
If You Give a Cat a Cupcake by Laura Numeroff
If you give a cat a cupcake, he'll want some sprinkles to go with it...and the journey begins!
If You Give a Mouse a Cookie by Laura Numeroff
If you give a cat a cookie, he'll ask for a glass of milk...and more stuff! A delightful journey of requests, and more requests.
If You Give a Dog a Donut by Laura Numeroff
If you give a dog a donut, he'll ask for some apple juice to go with it. And so the journey begins. Learn what else the dog will ask for!
If You Give a Moose a Muffin by Laura Numeroff
If you give a moose a muffin, he'll want some jam to go with it. Learn what happens when the moose eats all the muffins!
Good for Me and You by Mercer Mayer
Little Critter learns about healthy eating and a healthy lifestyle and shares all this information with his family.
The Boy Who Loved Broccoli by Sarah Creighton
Baxter eats broccoli and it gives him super powers! He uses this to perform good deeds and a whole lot more.
The Popcorn Book by Tomie dePaola
Tony likes to cook and Tiny, his twin, likes to read. And they both like to eat popcorn! Find out what they learn about popcorn in this classic.
Bread and Jam for Frances by Russell Hoban
Frances is fussy and only likes to eat bread and jam. Find out how she learns to eat more variety in this level 2 early reader book.
How to Make an Apple Pie and See the World by Marjorie Priceman
A silly recipe for apple pie takes readers around the globe to gather ingredients.
It's Disgusting and We Ate It! by James Solheim
How about trying some Garbage Stew, just like they made in medieval England? This book explores true food facts from around the globe.
Tyler Makes Spaghetti by Tyler Florence
Learn about where spaghetti comes from and how it's made with chef Tyler Florence as he and his dog, Tofu, travel the world to find all the ingredients.
The Seven Silly Eaters by Mary Ann Hoberman
Peter wants only milk, Lucy won’t settle for anything but homemade lemonade, and Jack is stuck on applesauce. Each new addition to the household brings a new demand for a special meal. What’s a mother to do?
Green Eggs and Ham by Dr. Seuss
“Do you like green eggs and ham?” asks Sam-I-am in this Beginner Book by Dr. Seuss.
The Peanut Pickle by Jessica Jacobs
Ben ate peanut butter when he was young and he had a bad allergic reaction. He knows that speaking up is very important, since he encounters food with peanuts at school, at T-ball practice, at birthday parties, and during the holidays. This book helps children learn to advocate for themselves.
To Market, To Market by Anne Miranda
What happens after a shopper goes “to market, to market, to buy a fat pig?” Back home the pig promptly escapes, and soon the pig’s in the kitchen, the lamb’s on the bed, the cow’s on the couch--and the rest of the animals are wreaking havoc throughout the house.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle
A children's classic about a caterpillar who eats his way through the pages of the book.
Llama Llama Yum Yum Yum! by Anna Dewdney
Llama Llama and his Mama are in the kitchen whipping up some delicious treats!
Dragons Love Tacos by Adam Rubin
Dragons love tacos. They love chicken tacos, beef tacos, great big tacos, and teeny tiny tacos. So if you want to lure a bunch of dragons to your party, you should definitely serve tacos.
Creepy Carrots! by Aaron Reynolds
Jasper Rabbit loves carrots—especially Crackenhopper Field carrots. But one day the carrots start following him...or are they?
Jamberry by Bruce Degen
A small boy and a big friendly bear embark on a berry-picking extravaganza, looking for blueberries, blackberries, and strawberries.
Pancakes for Breakfast by Tomie dePaola
Missing ingredients and mischievous pets create one humorous complication after another for a little old lady determined to make pancakes for breakfast.
Apple Farmer Annie by Monica Wellington
Annie is a very busy apple farmer. She bakes yummy treats with the apples she picks and saves her best apples to sell at the market.
Fannie in the Kitchen by Deborah Hopkinson
Marcia enjoys being her mother's helper, so she's hurt when Mother hires Fannie Farmer to prepare the family's meals. But sure enough Fannie's charm (and griddle cakes!) win Marcia over.
My Dinosaur is Scared of Vegetables by Lily Lexington
Follow Jack and his cute dinosaur friend in his quest to avoid eating his vegetables.
Cami Kangaroo has Too Many Sweets by Stacy C. Bauer
Cami Kangaroo loves sweets. In fact, she can't stop thinking about them. Even after Mommy catches her eating from a bucket of ice cream, she still finds ways to sneak them. Will she ever be able to listen?