Nutrition Education
Schools are an ideal place for kids to learn and practice good nutrition, and the classroom is the best place to start.
May 20 Is Weights and Measures Day
Teach a “How Big Is a Serving?” Lab
Invite students to explore serving sizes using the Nutrition Facts label on food packages. Using dry and liquid measuring cups, tablespoons, teaspoons and food scales, have students measure a serving of several foods from each food group. Discuss how increasing or decreasing the serving size affects the calories and nutrient amounts listed on the label.
Visit ChooseMyPlay.gov to learn more about building a healthy plate and what counts as a serving from each food group.
Use National Dairy Council Food Models to serving sizes for common foods. Each Food Model pictures a food in its recommended serving size, and provides information on the back similar to that found on food labels. Food Models can be ordered from Mid-Atlantic Dairy Association.
Featured Resources
Fuel Up To Play 60 Tracker
Encourage students to practice what you teach with the Fuel Up to Play 60 Tracker.
Students can track their food choices each day to be sure they are getting enough servings from all MyPlate food groups. The tracker reflects the recent Dietary Guidelines and uses MyPlate as a guide for the recommended serving sizes. Student can also track their physical activity and minutes. Use the tracker to help students set goals and improve their food choices and increase their levels of physical activity.
In addition to the paper tracker, students can track their healthy eating and physical activity online. Visit FuelUptoPlay60.com for more information.
FREE While Supplies Last!
“Feed Your Taste Buddies” Poster
This 22″ x 34″ poster features a very large cartoon-like mouth with ethnically diverse “taste buddies” on the tongue. The poster shows the saliva glands, uvula and teeth, highlighting the different functions of mouth parts. The reverse side has lesson plans and reproducible masters. Targets students in grades K-2.
Click here to order. Please include your name, mailing address, daytime phone number and quantity requested in the body of the e-mail.
Fuel the Change
The school environment can have a major impact on the health habits of children. Encouraging your students to “fuel up” with nutrient-rich foods at school and “get up and play” for 60 minutes daily can be a challenge. If you are teaching nutrition, Fuel Up to Play 60 is the program to help your students to put their learning into action! Fuel Up to Play 60 encourages and empowers students to work collaboratively with adults to make sustainable changes in the school environment. Be an agent for change in your school; join the Fuel Up to Play 60 movement.
Plan a Nutrition Expedition for Your Students
To help students learn the importance of good nutrition and physical activity, National Dairy Council® developed the Nutrition Expedition™ programs for second and fourth grades. These programs are teacher-tested and designed to support both health and language arts curricula.
Little D’s Nutrition Expedition™
Little D’s Nutrition Expedition transports second grade students back to the time of medieval castles and dragons to learn the importance of good nutrition and physical activity. Along the way, they’ll meet food-group friends like Little D the dragon, Princess Peapod, Queen Anna Banana and Sir Milkford the Scholar.
Arianna’s Nutrition Expedition™
Fourth grade students will enjoy armchair travel with the two heroes of this program – Arianna Bones and Marcus Muscleman. Whether they’re solving a mystery or trekking to Antarctica, these two adventurous fourth graders put pizzazz into learning about the importance of good nutrition and physical activity.