Basics of Teaching Nutrition Education & Physical Activity in the Classroom

Why worry about nutrition and physical activity? Diet is linked with 5 of the 10 leading causes of death:  Coronary heart disease  Some types of cancer  Stroke  Type 2 diabetes  Atherosclerosis (plaque buildup in the arteries)

A Dangerous Trend Data from the 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System showed that, of students in grades 9-12:  36% did not eat fruit/100% fruit juice one or more times per day  37.7% did not eat vegetables one or more times per day  12.2% did not eat for 24 hours or more to lose weight or to keep from gaining weight Obese children and adolescents are more likely to become obese as adults.

Concern About Physical Inactivity Data from the 2011 National Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System showed that, of students in grades 9-12:  32.4% watched television 3 or more hours per day  13.8% did not participate in at least 60 minutes of physical activity on any days of the week  Only 49.5% were physically active for a total of at least 60 minutes/day on at least 5 days of the week

Childhood Obesity Data from NHANES surveys (1976–1980 and 2009–2010) show that the prevalence of obesity has increased:  for children aged 2–5 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 12.1%  for those aged 6–11 years, prevalence increased from 6.5% to 18.0%  for those aged 12–19 years, prevalence increased from 5.0% to 18.4%

Long-Term Health Consequences Obese children and adolescents are more likely to:  Become obese as adults  Have health problems related to cardiovascular disease such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and Type 2 diabetes  Have bone and joint problems, sleep apnea, and social and psychological problems such as stigmatization and poor self-esteem

Finding the Time If you don’t have extra time to devote to nutrition, how do you squeeze it into an already busy school day?  Integrate with other subjects  Take advantage of mealtime and small breaks in the day

Overcoming Additional Barriers Other possible barriers:  Special Needs  Confidence  Space  Ideas

Good Nutrition Provides students with a solid foundation for lifelong health. Increases the odds of healthy & attentive students. Assures optimal development and growth Has positive effects on:  Alertness  Attention  Performance on standardized achievement tests

Teaching Nutrition Basics Nutrition education doesn’t need to occur in formal lessons  Be a healthy role model!  Healthy foods at class parties  Eliminate soft drinks  Use non-food items as rewards

Teaching Nutrition Basics

What are the components of MyPlate? Five food groups Uses a familiar mealtime visual, a place setting Reminder to eat healthfully Includes the website address for ChooseMyPlate.gov

MyPlate Messages Make half your plate fruits and vegetables Make half your grains whole Vary your veggies Focus on fruits Get your calcium-rich foods Go lean with protein

Using MyPyramid MyPyramid also teaches nutrition by food groups. Focus on eating a variety of foods Moderation  Eat more foods that are low in added sugar and fat  Cut back on packaged snacks & drinks that are high in sugar and/or fat Balance food intake with physical activity.

Teaching Nutrition to Preschoolers

Teaching Nutrition Basics Encourage youngsters to:  Try new foods  Eat a variety of foods  Get plenty of playtime activity Resources on

MyPyramid Coloring Activity

Healthy Foods Rainbow

ChooseMyPlate.gov Preschool Resources Use resources from choosemyplate.gov  Daily food plan  Developing healthy eating habits  Tips for picky eaters  Meal and snack information  Healthy Eating for Preschoolers Mini-Poster

Teaching Nutrition in the Elementary Classroom

MyPlate Activity MyPyramid for Kids resources available for elementary students of all ages

Teaching Nutrition in Middle and High School Classrooms

My Daily Food Plan Activity How does your intake compare to the recommendations? Create a customized Daily Food Plan at An easy way to get older students to think more critically about what they are eating.

Physical Activity Children and adolescents should get 60 minutes or more of physical activity EACH day. It is one of the most important things that children & adults can do for their health. It can help:  Control weight  Reduce risk of disease (cardiovascular, diabetes, cancer, etc.)  Strengthen bones and muscles  Improve mental health & mood  Keep thinking, learning, and judgment skills sharp

Let’s give it a try! Toss and Catch Share:  Your favorite fruit or vegetable  Your favorite physical activity  Your favorite food served in the school cafeteria

Preschools Learning to be physically active from an early age sets the groundwork for a lifetime of healthy habits Physical activity  Helps to develop motor skills and coordination  Can help children learn to feel good about themselves  Helps with mental development  Free play also helps children use their imagination and be creative

Physical Activity Show-and-Tell Young children love to show off new skills Encourage children to share achievements by holding a weekly physical activity show-and-tell. Make sure the environment is supportive, cheerful, and nonjudgmental

Older Students Beginning to experience freedom to make choices Regular physical activity may:  Improve self-esteem  Help to manage weight  Increase fitness levels  Help build and maintain bones, muscles, and joints School staff can impact physical activity choices by being a healthy role model and providing opportunities to be active during the school day

A Few Examples… For younger children: Basic movements and motor skills:  Tossing and catching  Jumping, hopping and skipping  Side-stepping  Balancing (on toes, on one foot, on one foot and two hands, etc.)  Pattern movements (hopscotch, dance steps, “Simon Says” etc.)

A Few Examples… For older children and adolescents:  Emphasize team-building Work in teams to complete tasks Require multiple people to be successful Encourage participation from ALL students  Provide opportunities for creativity Support student creativity Listen to students’ suggestions

Time for a “break” Stand next to a number When the music starts, move around the room to touch the next number in sequence Keep going until you get back to your original number Classroom applications?

A few last-minute tips! Allow energetic kids a chance to move and play Limit directions, rules and explanations Share activities with parents