Nutrition Education

Overview


Child Nutrition Programs  |   School Nutrition Programs  |   CACFP   |   SFSP


Integrating the Child Nutrition Programs (CNPs) with local nutrition education efforts creates a comprehensive approach to promoting healthy eating habits and encouraging children's participation.

By integrating nutrition education with school nutrition programs, schools create an environment that supports healthy eating habits, encourages student participation, and ensures that nutrition concepts are practiced both in the classroom and at mealtimes. 

The strategies below assist CNP sponsors with 

Align CNPs with Nutrition Education

  • Ensure that meals and snacks served in cafeterias align with the principles taught in nutrition education. For example, serving balanced, nutritious meals that include fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins reinforces the lessons students are learning in the classroom.
  • Use menus to teach about the importance of different food groups, portion sizes, and balanced meals

Classroom Lessons Linked to Cafeteria Practices

  • Teach nutrition concepts in the classroom and apply them directly in the cafeteria setting/eating environment. For example, children can learn about food labels, healthy food choices, and meal planning, and then apply this knowledge when selecting their meals.
  • Incorporate lessons on how to read food labels, the role of nutrients in the body, and the benefits of consuming a variety of foods.

Interactive Activities and Food Tastings

  • Organize hands-on activities such as cooking classes, gardening programs, or food tastings that reinforce what children learn in nutrition lessons. For example, if students learn about the importance of vegetables, provide them with opportunities to taste different vegetables prepared in healthy ways.
  • Create student-run garden projects to grow food and connect them with the food they eat in the cafeteria.

Involve Children in Menu Planning

  • When age appropriate, engage children in planning and evaluating CNP menus. This can help children better understand the meal preparation process and how to make healthy food choices.
  • Allow children to suggest and vote on healthy menu options, fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility for their food choices.

Collaborate with Families

  • Extend nutrition education beyond the classroom and into the home by providing families with resources, meal planning tips, and recipes that reinforce the CNPs.
  • Encourage family participation in nutrition workshops, and share information on the importance of healthy eating and the connection between nutrition and learning.

Promote Physical Activity Alongside Healthy Eating

  • Integrate physical activity with nutrition education by encouraging children to engage in regular exercise, which is equally important for overall health.
  • Offer opportunities for physical activities such as sports, recess, or fitness programs that complement nutrition education.

Monitor and Evaluate Impact

  • Regularly assess the effectiveness of the integration between nutrition education and the CNPs. Use surveys, feedback, and data on children's' food choices to measure the success and make necessary adjustments.

By integrating nutrition education with school nutrition programs, schools create an environment that supports healthy eating habits, encourages student participation, and ensures that nutrition concepts are practiced both in the classroom and at mealtimes. This approach helps students develop a lifelong understanding of the importance of nutrition and healthy lifestyles.