Nutrition for Kids 101

Presenter: Joey PeutzUniversity of Idaho ExtensionFacilitator: Maureen ToomeyUniversity of Idaho Extension

Welcome• Joey Peutz

– County Extension Faculty– Food stamp nutrition education– Administered the New Communities

CYFAR grant/program for five years

• Maureen Toomey– Supervises Idaho CYFAR programs– CYFERNET

Welcome• What do you hope to

achieve or obtain from this class?

Objectives• Describe why it is important to incorporate

nutrition education into youth programming• Develop a basic understanding of the child

nutrition needs• Identify three resources available to

enhance child nutrition

Why should you incorporate nutrition education into your program(s)?

• Children are twice as likely to eat french fries than any individual vegetable.

• Children are only eating a total of one serving of fruit, 100% juice and/or vegetables at dinner.

• Over 50% of all snacks eaten by children are cookies, desserts, potato chips, other salty snacks, candy and gum.

http://www.dole5aday.com/Teachers/pdfs/ExplodingPyramid.pdf

How much physical activity is needed?

• About 60 minutes a day of moderate physical activity may be needed to prevent weight gain.  For those who have lost weight, at least 60 to 90 minutes a day may be needed to maintain the weight loss. At the same time, calorie needs should not be exceeded. Children and teenagers should be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day, or most days.

Activities• “Noodles”

• Hola Hoops

• Parachute

• Balloons

• Colored Sand Pails & Food Models

Make Half Your Grains Whole!

• Eat at least 3 ounces of whole grain bread, cereal, rice, pasta, or crackers every day.

• Look for the word “whole” before the grain name in the list of ingredients.

Grains help my nerves, brain and digestion. They give me energy so I can run and play.

Activity: Super Whole Grain Guy/Gal• Supplies needed: Pipe cleaners, small knot pretzels, cheerios,

• Pinwheel or bow tie pasta, and napkins.• Step 1. Wrap pretzel on top of pipe cleaner.• Step 2. Wrap bow tie or pinwheel pasta on time around pipe

cleaner.• Step 3. Loop pipe cleaner thru pasta to make arms, try to make

them even. • Step 4. Put 6 cheerios on each arm and pinch ends to make

hands.• Step 5. Take another pipe cleaner and fold it in half. Slip it

between the pretzel (Head) and pasta (Body) and hang down in two even pieces to make legs.

• Step 6. Add 12 cheerios to each leg and pinch ends to make feet.

• Step 7. Use a napkin cut in a triangle or Kleenex to make a cape to make “Super Grain Guy”.

Vary Your Veggies! Dark Green Vegetables = 1 1/2 cups

weeklyOrange Vegetables = 1 cup weeklyDry Beans & Peas = 1 cup weeklyStarchy Vegetables = 2 1/2 cups weeklyOther Vegetables = 4 1/2 cups weekly

Focus on Fruits!

• Eat a variety of fruits

• Choose fresh, frozen, canned or dried fruits

• Go easy on the fruit juices

Activity: Fruits (and/or Vegetables): More Matters

• 1. Explain that you need the children’s help in playing the “Brown Bag Guessing Game.”

• 2. Children will guess the foods that are in the brown paper bag. They are not allowed to look in the bags, only to feel the food with their hands and try to make their best guess. All the children should have a chance to feel what is inside each bag. If the children guess the food, do not reveal the food until everybody has had their turn. Say something like, “You could be right!”

• 3. After all the children had had a chance to guess the foods reveal what is inside each bag one by one.

• 4. As you are showing the children the different foods that are in the bag ask questions like,

– Have you ever tried this food?– Do you like this food?– What type of food is it?– Where does this food fit on the Food Guide Pyramid?– How does this food grow?– What vitamin or mineral do you think we would find in this food?

Limit Your Extras!Limit Your Extras!• Make most of your fat

sources from fish, nuts and vegetable oils

• Limit solid fats like butter, stick margarine, shortening and lard

Get Your Calcium Rich Foods!

• Go low-fat and fat free• If you don’t or can’t consumer milk,

choose lactose free products or other calcium sources.

Activities:• Sticky Note Activity

– Once children understand how important it is to keep bones strong by eating calcium, getting plenty of weight-bearing exercise, and protecting our bones when we are physically active we are going to learn the names of some of our bones.

– 1. Give each youth “Your Skeleton” handout. Have them partner with someone– 2. Fold the “Your Skeleton handout in half so that on student uses the bones on

the left side of the skeleton and one uses the right side.– 3. Each youth receives sticky notes. Each youth will write the name of the bone

and place the sticky note on their partner. – 4. Have youth check their partners work.

• Hunt for Calcium Foods in My Home – Have children complete the “Hunt for Calcium Foods in My Home” sheet. Have

them work with their parents or older brother or sister to complete the sheet.

Go Lean on Protein!

• Choose low-fat or lean meats and poultry

• Bake it, broil it, or grill it

• Vary your choices--with more fish, beans, peas, nuts, and seeds

Incorporate Reading!

• Read a story about nutrition, cooking, eating new foods, etc.– List of possible books

sent by email