Building Healthy Futures for Every Child

The Food-Body-Mind intervention was developed to help address the growing early childhood mental health crisis. This 16-week program promotes whole child health by teaching preschool children and their parents mindful approaches to eating, movement, and parenting.

Program components

1. School-Based Mindfulness Lessons: Preschoolers learn mindfulness skills through explorative eating, yoga, and breathing activities.

2. Home-based Parent Program: Parents receive resources to reinforce healthy and mindful habits at home.

3. School-to-Home Connection: The program strengthens parent-child relationships by bridging classroom lessons with home-based practices, supporting consistency and positive interactions across both settings.

Funding

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (UG3/UH3AT012521)

MSU Today: $5.8M grant to address problem behaviors in Michigan preschoolers

Second Wave Michigan: Pilot program in Jackson County aims to support preschoolers’ mental health through mindfulness

College of Nursing at Michigan State University: Get an inside look at how preschoolers across Michigan are building health habits through Food, Body, and Mind, led by Dr. Jiying Ling, MSU Research Foundation Professor.

Publications

• Ling, J., Ashley, A., Zahry, N., Kao, T-S. A., Wahman, C. L., Resnicow, K., Robbins, L. B., Kerver, J. M., & Zhang, N. (2025). A mindfulness-based lifestyle intervention among economically marginalized caregiver-preschooler dyads: Feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction. School Mental Health. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12310-025-09767-w

Presentations

• Ling, J., & Sawalmeh, E. (2025, October 15). Food insecurity adversely correlates with family mental well-being: The mediating roles of parent-child relationship and mindfulness [Podium Presentation]. The Council for the Advancement of Nursing Science – Abstract Symposium, Washington DC.

• Ling, J., Ashley, A., Zahry, N., Kao, T.-S. A., Wahman, C., Resnicow, K., Robbins, L. B., Kerver, J. M., & Zhang, N. (2025, April 24-28). A mindfulness-based lifestyle intervention among economically marginalized caregiver-preschooler dyads: Feasibility, acceptability, and satisfaction [Poster Presentation]. Pediatric Academic Societies, Honolulu, Hawaii.

• Francisco, N., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). Family sociodemographic factors related to parental consent for hair sample collection in children [Poster Presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

• Benzing, J., Issa, C., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). Discrepancies in preschoolers’ social skills and problem behaviors in school versus home settings [Poster Presentation, First Place Presentation Award]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

• Kouzy, A., Distelrath, D., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). How does the parent-child relationship mediate the relationship between parent mental well-being and child behavioral health? [Poster Presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

• Kamminga, A., Steeby, M., & Ling, J. (2025, April 11). Relationship between parental mental health and child emotional well-being [Poster Presentation]. University Undergraduate Research and Arts Forum (UURAF), Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan.

• Siple, V. G., Elder, R. A., Chen, S., & Ling, J. (2025, March 10-11). Factors associated with accelerometer wear time in parent-preschooler dyads [Poster Presentation]. Mercer University BEAR Day, Macon, Georgia.

• Tadavich, S., Buhlman, R., & Ling, J. (2025, March 11). Exploring sociodemographic factors in mental health referral responses among low-income parents using PHQ-4 [Poster Presentation]. Michigan State University College of Nursing Research Day, East Lansing, Michigan.