Nutrition Curriculum Resource Guide
Sunday, April 26, 2009 0 Comments »
Making Healthy Choices: Variety Make the Difference
Health and Safety Standards - Content Area 2 - Nutritional Choices
Purpose: To teach and encourage children to make healthy eating choices by providing alternative healthy options and encouraging the consumption of a variety of foods. Students will learn the importance of choosing and eating a well balance diet through reading and interactive programs that reinforce the importance of a healthy diet.
Books (Fiction)
Burger Boy by Alan Durant (JE Dur) - This is a story about a boy who eats nothing but hamburgers. One day he becomes what he eats and the only way for him to get back to normal is to eat other foods. His mother feeds him a variety of vegetables until he is back to a normal boy. This is a great read aloud book that te achers can use to reinforce the importance of eating a variety of foods.
Greggory, the Terible Eater by Sharmat (JE SHA) - This is a story of a very picky eater Gregory; he refuses to eat the usual delicacies of a goat such as; cans, shoes, cardboard. He favors fruits, eggs, vegetables, fish, and juice. The story reinforces that it is important to try new foods because you do not know if you like it until you give it a try. It also touches on the importance of eating a variety of foods.
Picky Peggy by Jennifer Dussling (JE Dussling) - This is a story about a girl named Peggy and she is a really picky eater. Peggy decides to try other foods after she becomes worried about her pet duck being too small and not looking well. The purpose of the book is to encourage children to eat healthy and trying a variety of foods in order to be healthy and grow strong and tall.
The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle (JE Carle) - This is a very simple book about a caterpillar who eats throughout the whole week. Eric Carle's illustrations are brightly colored and the texts consist of repetitive phrases. This is a great book to teach students about the importance of not over eating but it also illustrates how eating helps you grow.
I Will Never Not Ever Eat a Tomato by Lauren Child (JE Child) - A fussy eater decides to sample the carrots after her brother convinces her that they are really orange twiglets from Jupiter. This is book encourages students to try different foods.
Eat Your Peas by Kes Gray & Nick Sharratt (JE Gray) - Daisy hates peas, so her mom tries to bribe her into eating them. But no matter how elaborate the bribes become, Daisy won't be swayed and eventually triumphs in this battle of wills. Bold cartoon illustrations enhance the tension: Daisy grows larger and angrier while her mother grows smaller and more desperate.
Good Enough To Eat: a kid's guide to food and nutrition by Lizzy Rockwell (J 613.2 Roc) – An introduction to nutrition that describes the six categories of nutrients needed for good health, how they work in the body, and what foods provide each, as well as food experiments and recipes, in a kid-friendly format. Describes six categories of nutrients needed for good health, how they work in the body, and what foods provide each.
Chocolate Fever by Written by Robert Kimmel Smith and Illustrated by Gioia Fiammenghi (J Smith) - One day Henry Green, who loves chocolate and eats it whenever he can, breaks out in mysterious brown spots that smell like chocolate. At the hospital, he becomes terrified and runs away, hitchhiking with a trucker before he gets to the bottom of the problem. This book deal with several issues but Henry learns from his eating habits. Teachers can use this chapter book as a unique way to introduce a nutrition unit. Through the use of this book teachers can encourage students to eat a variety of things but at the same time a little chocolate every once in a while is not so bad.
Books (Non-fiction)
Healthy Snacks by Mari C. Schuh (J 641.53 Sch) - Provides several examples of healthy snacks for children and explains the meaning of a snack. Page 8 provides the link to My Pyramid for children to learn more about nutrition. The text is very simple and the book has a glossary section for any words that the children may not understand relating to nutrition. The book also has further reading suggestions.
The Monster Health Book: A guide to eating healthy, being active & feeling great for monsters and kids! By Edward Miller (J 613.7 Mil) - Provides guidance for choosing the right kinds and portions of food for staying fit, and includes a discussion about getting proper rest and exercise and developing healthy habits. Breaks down each of the five food groups in detail and explains how and why food gives you energy. The author gives examples for each meal of what is a healthy choice and what is not. He also explains why breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Miller also provides healthy snack choices. The book is written in a way that children can easily understand and is fun.
You Are What You Eat by Sharon Gordon (J 613.2 Gor) - Students will learn the basic facts about nutrition. It describes the food pyramid and the importance of eating something from each group every day. The book explains that why eating breakfast is important. It also explains the importance of making healthy food choices.
The edible pyramid : good eating every day by Loreen Leedy (J 613.2 Lee) – Animal characters learn about "good eating everyday" in a restaurant called The Edible Pyramid, where the waiter offers the foods grouped in sections of the Food Guide Pyramid and customers learn how many servings they need each day. Students will have fun while reading about the customers Edible Pyramid. The customers learn about the food group at the Edible Pyramid. Students will learn about the food groups and how much to eat from them each day. Students will also learn the importance of making healthy eating choices.
Keeping Healthy by Dr. Brian Knapp (J 613.043 Kna) Pages 2-12
Students will read and learn why water is important to a body. They will learn what a balances diet means. The author gives examples of a bad diet and compares some of the children's' favorite foods to the recommended daily allowance. The book encourages children to avoid sugary and fatty foods.
My Food Pyramid : Eat Right, Exercise, Have Fun by DK Publishing, Alisha Niehaus (J 613.2 Nie) Introducing young readers to healthy eating and living using the USDA Food Pyramid as a guideline, this timely book explains how to use the new chart while encouraging well-rounded perspectives on nutrition and exercise. Kids will learn how empowering it can be to think about what they eat!
Why Should I Eat Well? (Why Should I? Books Series) by Mike Gordon (Illustrator), Claire Llewellyn (J 613.2 Clair) - With amusing pictures and simple text, this book shows them the importance of eating sensibly and explains the meaning of a balanced diet. This book contains notes for parents and teachers to help them use this book most effectively. Boys and girls discover the importance of eating sensibly and keeping to a balanced diet. They learn that good eating habits are important for health and fitness.
Poems
Revenge of the Lunch Ladies "My Lunch" by Ken Nesbitt - This is a poem about a child that fixes his own lunch while his mom slept in and of course it was not a healthy one. Teachers can read the poem and then have the students offer healthy suggestions. 
Never Take a Pig to Lunch and Other Poems About the Fun of Eating by Nadine Bernard Wescott (J 808.81 Nev) - This actually an anthology of quirky, food related poems that students enjoy. Students love the zany poems and fun illustrations
Where the Sidewalk Ends ("Point of View" pg98) by Shel Silverstein (811.54 Sil) - This is a short poem about a variety of foods and seeing dinner from the dinner's point of view. This poem encourages eating a variety of foods in a very silly way.
Bam Mind & Body(Food & Nutrition) http://www.bam.gov/sub_foodnutrition/
This is a great site for students to explore. The website has gives fun and tasty nutrition recipes. There is a game they can play to help make healthy eating choices. "Fuel up for Fun" gives examples of healthy snacks for children.
Kids Nutrition and Fitness http://www.kidshealth.org/kid/centers/nutrition_center.html
This website has a lot of information for children to explore. There is a section were children can learn all about food. It includes recipes, diet, minerals, and nutrients. It includes recipes for health foods and snacks. It also includes a section on special diets.
PBS Kids (It's My Life, Body) http://pbskids.org/itsmylife/body/foodsmarts/mentors.html
This website has several subcategories that students can explore. This site gives students examples of healthy family eating habits. It gives details on the new Food Pyramid. There is a link that teaches students how to read food labels. Students can read statements from other students and mentors.
MyPyramid.gov http://www.mypyramid.gov/
This website provides teachers with accurate information regarding the food pyramid. The site has printable resources for teachers to use. It provides other helpful resources for nutrition such as links to alternate websites for children.