Basics of Teaching Nutrition Education & Physical Activity in the Classroom.
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Transcript Basics of Teaching Nutrition Education & Physical Activity in the Classroom.
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
www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
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 www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
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
www.ChooseMyPlate.gov
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