The preponderance of overweight children in society is a worrisome problem for everyone. Kids consume less nutritious foods in general and lead more sedentary lifestyles than in the past. Poor nutrition and lack of activity result in lots of extra pounds. Schools must take action by providing programs for weight loss.
Teaching Nutrition
Students need to be taught the basics of nutrition of how eating affects their growth and development. Make use of the United Stated Department of Agriculture's food pyramid in your lessons. Work with identifying specific foods such as grains, proteins, dairy, fruits, vegetables and fats. Show students the way the pyramid works with grains at the bottom indicating the need for many more servings of it compared to fats which is at the very top of the pyramid. Students should learn how certain foods hold much more nutrition being full of vitamins and minerals than other "empty" calorie laden choices such as soft drinks and highly processed "junk" foods. Incorporate hands-on activities in your lessons to keep kids motivated. Let them follow simple recipes and enjoy "cooking" and consuming healthy foods which will result in weight loss for heavy students.
Lunch and Snack Offerings
While you as a teacher may not have control over the food items served in your school, you can encourage your students to make good choices from what is available. Steer your kids towards whole foods such as brown rice, whole wheat breads and pastas and away from less nutritious "white" starches. Show your students what you choose for your lunches by picking the most nutritious of the school's offerings or bring in your own fresh foods to consume during the noon time meal. Nutrition Explorations contends modeling healthy eating habits will have a great influence on your students. Ask your pupils to bring in nutritious snacks for break time such as granola, fruits and peanut butter on celery.
Physical Education
Stress physical activity during recess and breaks, especially if your school does not have a formal physical education program. Teach classic games such as "red rover", "tag" and "kickball" to your kids. Encourage all students to participate and set guidelines as to behavior so less athletically inclined students will not be discouraged by any taunts. Stress teamwork and cheer on all the players. Many teachers prefer to modify games so that they are non-competitive.
Make accommodations for physical play during rainy days as well. Move desks to the sides of the room if you don't have access to a gymnasium so that students can have an area in which to be active inside the classroom. In addition to promoting weight loss physical activity promotes cognitive abilities in children so that learning is easier and more productive.
After School Athletic Clubs
Sponsor an after-school athletic club to help keep kids active and to promote weight loss among the overweight children. Make the club fun and engaging with motivating physical games and sports. Get parents involved as well so the encouragement will occur out of school as well. Teach simple gymnastics, ball games and relay running to keep the kids up and moving. Ask the class what sports they want to work on such as soccer or basketball and use their ideas to keep the club entertaining as well as beneficial. Enjoy watching your students get in better physical shape.
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