September is National Childhood Obesity Month, a time to raise awareness about the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle for children. As nutrition educators, we play a crucial role in guiding young minds toward better eating habits and active living. However, keeping kids engaged while teaching them about nutrition can sometimes be a challenge. To help make this easier and more effective, we’ve developed two companion products: the NCES Kids Right-Size Portion Plate Handout and the NCES Kids Right-Size Portion Plate. These tools are designed to bring nutrition education to life in a fun and interactive way, perfect for use in classrooms, after-school programs, and at home.
1. NCES Kids Right-Size Portion Plate Handout: A Visual and Interactive Learning Tool _thumbnail.jpg)
An excellent resource for kids in grades K-6, making it ideal for use during National Childhood Obesity Month. The front side features a vibrant plate illustration with fun food characters that make learning about the different food groups engaging and memorable. This side of the handout helps kids understand the importance of filling their plates with nutritious foods from each food group—fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy.
Key Features:
- Colorful and Engaging Design: The bright colors and fun characters capture children’s attention, making the learning experience enjoyable and memorable. Visual aids are proven to help with memory retention, and this handout is no exception.
- Educational Content: The handout clearly explains the role of each food group in a balanced diet, helping kids understand why each group is important for their growth and overall health.
On the back, the handout becomes an interactive tool. It includes a chart that encourages children to actively track their daily food and activity goals. This interactive component is crucial for fostering self-awareness and accountability among young learners.
Interactive Elements Include:
- Daily Food and Activity Tracking: The chart allows students to choose which food groups or physical activities to focus on each day, encouraging them to set and meet their own health goals.
- Goal Setting: By allowing kids to set their own daily targets, the handout teaches them the value of goal-setting and self-monitoring.
- Healthy Lifestyle Reminders: Tips on portion sizes and balanced diets serve as useful reminders for both kids and their families.
This handout is not only an excellent educational tool for the classroom but also a great resource for families to use at home, promoting healthy habits that can last a lifetime. It is especially useful during National Childhood Obesity Month to emphasize the importance of preventing childhood obesity through balanced nutrition and physical activity.
2. NCES Kids Right-Size Portion Plate: Making Mealtime Educational
A fantastic tool to reinforce the lessons learned in the classroom at home during mealtime. This 9-inch, dishwasher-safe plate is divided into sections that represent the different food groups: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Each section is brightly colored and clearly labeled, making it easy for kids to understand how much of each food group they should be consuming.
Key Features:
- Visual Portion Guidance: The plate provides a visual guide for portion sizes, helping children learn to balance their meals with the right proportions of each food group.
- Reinforces Nutrition Concepts: By using the plate at every meal, children are continuously reminded of the lessons they learn in the classroom, reinforcing healthy eating habits.
- Promotes Physical Activity: The plate also highlights the importance of physical activity as part of a balanced lifestyle, linking nutrition and exercise in a way that’s easy for kids to understand.
- Durable and Practical: Made from sturdy melamine, this plate is built to withstand daily use, making it perfect for home or educational settings.
How to Use These Tools in Your Nutrition Education Programs During National Childhood Obesity Month
In the Classroom:
- Lesson Integration: Use the handout to complement lessons on nutrition, healthy eating habits, and the food groups. The interactive chart can serve as a daily or weekly activity where students track their food intake and physical activity, fostering a hands-on learning experience.
- Group Activities: Organize group activities where children can discuss their favorite healthy foods, learn how to read food labels, or create their own balanced meal plans using the plate as a guide.
In After-School Programs:
- Healthy Eating Challenges: Create friendly competitions or challenges where students can use the handout and plate to practice making healthy choices. Reward participation and progress with small incentives to keep the children motivated.
- Interactive Workshops: Host workshops where kids and their families learn together about nutrition, healthy portion sizes, and the importance of physical activity, using both the handout and the plate as teaching aids.
At Home:
- Family Mealtime Learning: Encourage families to use the plate at home to practice portion control and balanced eating. The handout can serve as a guide for parents to discuss healthy eating with their children, fostering a home environment that supports healthy choices.
- Goal-Setting and Tracking: Families can use the interactive chart on the handout to set and track food and activity goals together, making health and nutrition a family affair.
Conclusion: Engaging Kids in Nutrition Education During National Childhood Obesity Month
By incorporating the NCES Kids Right-Size Portion Plate Handout and the NCES Kids Right-Size Portion Plate into your nutrition education programs, especially during National Childhood Obesity Month, you can make learning about healthy eating both fun and effective. These tools not only teach kids about the importance of a balanced diet and regular physical activity but also encourage them to actively participate in their own health journey.
As nutrition educators, we have the opportunity to shape the habits of the next generation. Let’s make it a fun and engaging process with these innovative and interactive resources!
Explore these tools today and enhance your nutrition education efforts! Together, we can inspire healthy habits that last a lifetime
Discover fun and interactive tools for National Childhood Obesity Month! Learn how our Two-Sided Healthy Eating Handout and MyPlate Melamine Plate help kids develop healthy eating habits and stay active, making nutrition education engaging for grades K-6.
