We teach reading developmentally: ABCs, letter sounds, words. We teach math developmentally: numbers, value, addition. But when it comes to food, we too often skip development entirely. When we teach kids about nutrition, we often begin with abstract ideas like health, balance, nutrients, and disease prevention. But what does “healthy” mean to a five-year-old? What we teach and what a child understands are not always the same thing. This is where child development matters.