Nutrition in Education Advocacy

 

Click to Listen to the 2012 National Nutrition Month PSA 

A fun Friday afternoon activity to "Get Your Plate In Shape" can be to give each child a paper plate, with a small blue circle attached to the top right of the plate (to represent dairy) along with access to food magazines. Allow them to cut out and paste foods from the groups and place them in the correct area on the plate -  help them with the division of the plate. 

For older children, The Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics suggests conducting a Fear Factor-type event. Provide unusual vegetables and fruits cut into bite-size pieces. Offer an opportunity to taste and guess the food. This is an activity I have personally done with children from first through twelfth grades, and they LOVE the dare aspect of it - and believe it or not, many are surprised to find that they like a new food or two! If weird vegetables are a little daunting, the activity also works well with fruit and vegetable juices. 

More fun suggestions from the Academy for involving children in National Nutrition Month can be found here!