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Three programs offered by the
United States Department of Agriculture
Community Nutrition Action Kit
Summary: Low preparation activities for after-school programs geared towards empowering preteens to make healthy choices.
Details: The Power of Choice program is designed for use in after-school programs to provide quick and simple yet meaningful activities. The material focuses on helping preteens make healthy eating and activity choices through motivation and goal setting. The free material can be ordered online and educators will receive a ten cd-rom series, with interactive sessions based on four posters covering food safety, food labels, and the food guide pyramid. Also included are nutrition fact cards, recipes, and letters for parents. To maximize the material's effectiveness, the cd includes a training section for educators for material delivery and tips for communicating with adolescents. The lessons cover topics including how to gauge hunger and satiety (physical and mental aspects) as well as how to "make drinks count". Overall, these activities are very hands on and reflective so that students are empowered to choose wisely.
Summary: Kit includes activities for grades 3-6 students to utilize at home or during community and school programs.
Details: The Community Nutrition Action Kit provided by the USDA can be located here. The kit includes family, youth, and community activities for grades 3-6. The youth activities are designed to be fun and interactive. For example, students will create rap songs, play charades, and even make their own "nutramercials" (nutrition commercials) to present to the group. The activities also include extension activities for the home. Some activities require actual food to be purchased. The very convenient matrix helps educators easily identify what activity best meets the desired learning theme.
Summary: Link to yourSELF program offered by the USDA.
Details: The yourSELF program is another program offered by the USDA for seventh and eighth graders. This program comes with student workbooks. Although the first page is titled "Are you normal", the material encourages the students to stray away from society's standards of health. The booklet actually speaks to the student as if he/she was the educator. It encourages the students to share the information with family members because "the food guide pyramid was not around when they were young." In addition to the health activity and nutrition activities, the workbook guides students through reading BMI and growth charts, managing snack attacks, and setting goals. PDFs are available online, but purchase is required for the full set to be delivered.
Solange Bushra Wasef MS, RD is a Registered Dietitian with dual bachelor's degrees in biochemistry and chemistry who graduated with honors. She also has earned her master's degree in nutritional science. Currently, she is a lecturer at California State University, Los Angeles. She also is involved in promoting nutrition education as well as performs counseling in the areas of weight management.
