Nutrition education teaches students the basics of a healthy lifestyle that they can use for the rest of their lives. According to the Louisiana Department of Education, the classroom is an ideal place to teach nutrition because children spend a great deal of their time at school. Adopting a nutrition curriculum provides the opportunity to reduce the risk of obesity and health conditions related to poor diet.
Goal
The primary goal of using a nutrition curriculum in the classroom is to provide your students with the basics regarding eating a healthy and balanced diet. This allows you and other school staff the unique opportunity to model good eating habits through proper nutrition, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or CDC. Most nutrition curricula available include the materials needed to teach the class about the Food Guide Pyramid and how to make healthy selections from each food group to create a diet that covers daily nutrient needs. Starting in the lower grades ensures that school children will understand that good nutrition is a lifestyle.
Implementation
You can teach your students about nutrition in different ways beyond the usual handouts and videos. Many computer programs and Internet sites offer interactive games that provide an entertaining way for children to learn about nutrition. Many of these feature lesson plans that make the most efficient use of the computer games and materials. However, you don't have to use technology to achieve your goals. Books, magazines, posters and cut-and-paste games are just as useful for teaching kids about healthy eating. The CDC reports that improving school nutrition is part of what an educational mission should be -- to promote children's growth into healthy adults who are able to contribute to society.
Age Appropriateness
When choosing a nutrition curriculum for use in your classroom, take into account the age of your students. The concepts that a preschooler will be able to grasp are vastly different than those a high school-age student can understand. The Louisiana Department of Education maintains that consistent and reinforced messages throughout school encourages kids to make healthy decisions throughout their lives. Be sure that the materials you choose are age-appropriate and easily understood by your students as they progress through each grade level.
School Food
While schools have to follow federal mandates regarding what they serve students in the cafeteria, the CDC reports that vending machines, snacks, concession stands and school stores are not under the same restrictions. The items offered in these venues may derail the messages you are teaching in the classroom because they often directly contradict the nutritional lessons you are imparting. If the students are taught the importance of a healthy diet in the classroom and then offered candy, soda and other processed junk food outside the classroom, your goal in giving them the tools to make healthy choices is challenged. Many schools are eliminating these unhealthy food products, and as a teacher you can help implement changes at your school.
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