Proposed class: HealthyEating101: Name That Food GroupBy Zinaida Sirbegovic At Howard County Library System we are proud to be educators! Our mission statement is ‘high quality public education for all.’ We are focused on nurturing people’s minds. However, education is not only about numbers, letters, or even science. It is also about learning healthy eating habits and keeping them for life! We need to nurture people’s bodies not just minds!

Need:Nowadays, in our society, food is everywhere. However, it is mostly highly processed, empty calories food. It is hard to make healthy choices when it comes to eating. Therefore, we need to teach our kids healthy eating habits!In this class we will explore five food groups (as presented by USDA) and show kids the importance of incorporating these foods into every meal while trying to minimize “sometimes foods” (sodas, chips, cakes, etc…)

Ages: 5-8 (grades K – 2) 30 min.

Times: Sep 12 2014 11amOct 17 2014 11am (Ho. Co. schools closed)

Name That Food Group

Children will learn about five food groups as defined by USDA and become aware of the importance of incorporating all five groups into everyday meals.

Activity 1:Read the book Bread and Jam for Frances by Hoban Russell, discuss it, and see what kids think about it.Activity 2: Introduce the poster http://www.choosemyplate.gov/ and briefly explain the five food groupsActivity 3: Play the game “Name That Food Group.” Ahead of time, I will create cards depicting different foods (potato, broccoli, chicken, bread, etc.). Kids will be split into two teams; each team will get a sorting poster obtained at http://www.fns.usda.gov/sites/default/files/eatsmartminiposter.pdf . Food cards will be hidden around the room. I will ask kids to go around the room, find cards, and sort them on their poster. Activity 4:Discuss kids sorting choices and ask them about similarities of the foods in a category.

Preparation:

1. Obtain supervisor approval for the class2. Obtain approval to serve food (single-serving string cheese, single-serving

carrots, water bottles) 3. Submit request for flyers to admin 4. Submit class description to be printed in Source, print version and online5. Reserve book Bread and Jam for Frances by Hoban Russell6. Print “chosemyplate” poster from USDA site7. Make food cards using store fliers, printouts, etc.8. Reserve the meeting room9. Reserve books that will be on display throughout the classroom for parents to

check out: Weelicious : 140 fast, fresh, and easy recipes by McCord, Catherine, Beating the lunch box blues: fresh ideas for lunches on the go! by Hirsh,

J.M., Brain foods for kids : over 100 recipes to boost your child's intelligence by

Graimes, Nicola The Cleaner Plate Club by Bader, Beth Etc…

On the day of the class:1. Buy water and snacks (single servings string cheese, single servings baby carrots),

refrigerate2. Prepare classroom3. Hide food cards around the room4. Display books for parents to check out

Inspiration and sources:The Power of Choice: Helping Youth Make Healthy Eating and Fitness Decisionshttp://www.fns.usda.gov/tn/power-choice-helping-youth-make-healthy-eating-and

Fruits & veggies more mattershttp://www.fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org/

USDA ChooseMyPlate.govhttp://www.choosemyplate.gov/

Healthy Eating http://supportunitedway.org

To be printed in Source magazine:

Learn about food groups in a fun and interactive way! Play a game, have a healthy snack, talk about your food choices!‘Light refreshments will be served’

Ages: 5 – 8 (grades K – 2) 30 min.East Columbia Fri Sep 12 2014 11amEast Columbia Fri Oct 17 2014 11am

(Ho. Co. schools closed)

Additional promotions:Promote in schools.Obtain flyers from admin and keep them next to check out desk one month in advance.Social Media: Facebook and Twitter messages two weeks in advance.