Apr 1, 2010
The USDA has a collection of materials designed to improve nutrition and increase physical activity. Each curriculum focuses on a different target audience, but all share the goal of reducing our country’s obesity problem. Some of the materials are available in English and Spanish. A summary of each is shown below. Follow the links to learn more!
- Secrets of Feeding a Healthy Family: How to Eat, How to Raise Good Eaters, How to Cook is a book written to bring back the joy of eating and cooking. This book has thirteen chapters which address topics of cooking, attitudes about food, and eating behaviors.
- Fruit, Vegetable, and Physical Activity Toolbox for Community Educators is a tool kit complete with nutrition and physical activity lessons, handouts, poster, produce guide, playing cards, media disc, discussion guide, small pamphlets, and learning tools. The lessons are well organized and include a variety of topics such as grocery shopping, recipe preparation, and healthy eating on the go
- Instant Recess DVD and Users' Guide is a 15 minute DVD which includes exercises that can be done anywhere. The exercises do not require any equipment and are done at a slow pace so anyone can participate. Along with the DVD, a small booklet for educators is included that provides information and tips on exercise, hydration, and how to use the DVD effectively.
- Nutrition Detectives is a DVD geared towards elementary-aged school children. This curriculum teaches children the importance of food labels and how to read them. The DVD is rich with animation and entertaining games, and features a question/answer section toward the end which explains how the DVD can be used effectively with children.
- Pyramid Plus: Real life nutrition for teens is a curriculum to help motivate teens to make healthy nutrition choices. This resource includes 9 lessons and a CD with supporting materials. The lessons are very diverse and cover topics such as nutrient rich foods to body acceptance.