This nutrition handbook is designed to provide enough information on nutrition and food habits to enable early childhood educators to add a nutrition dimension to children's learning activities. Topics covered are the role of nutrition in growth during the preschool years; nutrients and their functions; selecting a healthy diet; common nutritional problems of young children; prevention of atherosclerosis and hypertension through good nutrition; food facts and fallacies; influences on food habits; the eating behavior of preschool children; the educator's role in developing good food habits; and nutrition education in preschool centers. Included in the appendices are national health statistics on growth standards, a list of the sources and functions of important nutrients, and recommended dietary allowances of the major nutrients. (SS)