Nutrition Education
The Importance of Nutrition Education
University of Maryland Extension‘s school-based Food Supplement Nutrition Education (FSNE) programs reach students, teachers, and parents in low income communities including after-school sites, summer meal programs and public schools where 50% or more students qualify for free or reduced-price school lunch.
The goal of the FSNE school-based programs is to integrate key nutrition messages into the school curriculum, policies, the lunchroom, and family shopping and meals.
Dig In
Explore a world of possibilities in the garden and on your plate using ten inquiry-based lessons that engage 5th and 6th graders in growing, harvesting, tasting, and learning about fruits and vegetables.
Print Availability: Schools participating in the National School Lunch Program or other Child Nutrition program may order a free print copy of the entire Dig In!
Growing Healthy Habits
Growing Healthy Habits is a 9-unit, gardening and nutrition education curriculum that targets youth, grades K-5.
Nutrition Nuggets
Nutrition Nuggets is a curriculum that targets youth in after-school settings.
- Full curriculum
- Introduction
- Educator Letter
- Unit 1 — MyPlate – The Fabulous Five!
- Unit 2 — Handwashing
- Unit 3 — MyPlate – Empty Calories
- Unit 4 —Extras – Sugar
- Unit 5 — Breakfast
- Unit 6 — Grains and Fiber
- Unit 7 — MyPlate – Veggies and Vitamins
- Unit 8 — MyPlate – Fruits
- Unit 9 — MyPlate – Dairy Group
- Unit 10 — Protein Group
- Unit 11 — Combo Food Festival
- Unit 12 — Healthy Parties
Nutrition to Go
Nutrition to GO! displays are versatile learning tools that may serve as the basis for short, 15-minute lessons or they can be used as a “stand alone” display in community settings, such as health fairs, food banks and pantries, health departments, and school-sponsored events.
- Leaders Guide
- Calories in Beverages — (English, Spanish)
- Calorie Labels on Menus — (English, Spanish)
- Cooking with Kids — (English, Spanish)
- Drink Low-Fat Milk — (English, Spanish)
- Family Meals — (English, Spanish)
- Fruits and Veggies — (English, Spanish)
- Be Physically Active and Reduce Screen Time — (English, Spanish)
- Single Servings — (English, Spanish)
- Start Your Day with Breakfast — (English, Spanish)
- Stretch Your Food Dollars — (English, Spanish)
Participant Handouts
- Calories in Beverages — (English, Spanish)
- Calorie Labels on Menus — (English, Spanish)
- Cooking with Kids — (English, Spanish)
- Drink Low-Fat Milk — (English, Spanish)
- Family Meals — (English, Spanish)
- Fruits and Veggies — (English, Spanish)
- Be Physically Active and Reduce Screen Time — (English, Spanish)
- Single Servings — (English, Spanish)
- Start Your Day with Breakfast — (English, Spanish)
- Stretch Your Food Dollars — (English, Spanish)
Read for Health
Read for Health is a language arts-based nutrition and physical activity education curriculum for pre-K and elementary school students.
- Read for Health with Edible ABC’s — Full Curriculum
- Lesson 1 — Fruits & Vegetables
- Lesson 2 — Physical Activity
- Lesson 3 — Picky Eaters
- Lesson 4 — Family Meals
- Lesson 5 — All Fruits Have Seeds
- Lesson 6 — Keep Your Healthy Body Moving!
- Lesson 7 — Food Advertising
- Lesson 8 — Grocery Shopping and Cooking Together
- Lesson 9 — Making Healthy Snack Choices (Who Needs to Eat Right?)
- Lesson 10 — Berry Tales (Berry Tales Story)
- Lesson 11 — Where Do Fruits and Vegetables Grow?
- Lesson 12 — Whole Grains
- Lesson 13 — The Scoop on Soil
- Lesson 14 — Healthy Gardens
- Lesson 15 — Food from the Earth
- Lesson 16 — The MyPlate Food Groups
- Lesson 17 — Serving Yourself (Time to Eat Book)
- Lesson 18 — Farm to Table
ReFresh
The ReFresh curriculum focuses on encouraging students to consume more fruits, vegetables and whole grains and is designed to meet the learning needs of 4th and 5th grade students.
- October – What’s So Great About Nutrition
- October Appendix
- November – Heritage and Ethnic Foods
- November Appendix
- December — Sharing Family Meals
- December Appendix
- January – Variety: The Spice of Life
- January Appendix
- February — Water for Healthy Bodies
- February Appendix
- March — Environmental Literacy
- March Appendix
- April — Whole Grains
- April Appendix
- May — Energy Balance
- May Appendix
- Read for Health with Edible ABC’s — Full Curriculum
Champions for Healthy Kids is a training for Out of School Youth program providers to learn how to incorporate nutrition and physical activity into their after school programs.
To learn more about the Champions for Healthy Kids training and view program promotionals, visit here.