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Preschool Nutrition Education Curriculum

Goal

Preschoolers will establish healthy eating and physical activity habits.

Objectives

Preschoolers will: • Recognize MyPlate and know that it is a guide to

healthy eating

• Identify foods

• Know that they need physical activity every day

• Know when and how to appropriately wash their hands

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History of Development

History of Development

• Developed a curriculum

• Simple, easy to use

• Field-tested

• Very successful with children, parents, teachers, and staff

Then Came My Pyramid!

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Needed Revisions

• Looked simple at first • Adding MyPyramid

– Vertical instead of shelves – New colors on MyPyramid conflicted with

the three colors – Complicated the simplicity of

concepts

Developed New

Story Booklet

• Modified the format

• Added MyPyramid

• Changed the colors

• Added hand washing

• Added teacher information

Then Came MyPlate!

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Current Revisions

• Adapt the concept to MyPlate • Update the graphics • Update the food models • Added a poster

Developed Version III of the Storybook

• Modified the format

• Added MyPlate

• Updated the graphics

• Strengthened the physical activity message

Concept

• Based on MyPlate and Dietary Guidelines

• Simplifies MyPlate for preschoolers

– Uses 3 food categories instead of 5

– Each of the categories corresponds to the effect of the foods on the body

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Concept

• Go Foods

– Contains the Grains Group

– Foods that provide the body with energy

– “Help me run, jump, and play all day”

Concept

• Glow Foods – Contains the Fruits and

Vegetables Groups

– Foods that provide the body with vitamins and minerals to keep the body healthy and functioning

– “Make my hair shine and my eyes sparkle”

Concept

• Grow Foods – Contains the Protein and Dairy

Groups

– Foods that help the body grow and develop strong bones and muscles

– “Help me grow bigger and stronger”

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Other Curriculum Concepts Physical Activity - Teaches the importance of daily exercise.

- Emphasizes that exercise is fun.

- “Move your body when you play.”

Other Curriculum Concepts Hand Washing - Teaches the importance of proper hand washing.

- Children learn when and how to wash their hands.

- “Wash, wash, wash my hands; Wash

them nice and clean; Scrub them here

and scrub them there, and scrub

them in between.”

How the Curriculum is Presented

• Simple, fun, and easy to use

• Appropriate for 3–5 year olds

• Engages the children in meaningful active learning

• Hands-on and interactive

• Repetitive messages

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Curriculum Components

• Story booklet, one per classroom • Teacher curriculum

– 6 lessons – Parent letter and recipe – Food models – Supporting poster

• Lesson Objective – 2 nutrition or physical activity objectives

• To Do List – Includes any required prep work

• Lesson Overview – A brief overview of the lesson activities and outcomes

• Teacher Background – More detailed information on nutrition and physical activity concepts

Each Lesson Includes:

• Read the Booklet – Gives specific information for reading and re-reading the booklet

• Activities – 2 activities per lesson, to be taught in the order presented, require the children to move

• Snack – A nutritious and easy to prepare snack to be done with the children

Each Lesson Includes:

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• Review – Questions to ask the children that reinforce the lesson content

• Parent Letter and Recipe – Reproducible letter in English and Spanish and a recipe to make at home

• Evaluation – Educator evaluation to be returned to UC CalFresh at the end of the year

• Food Models – Simple pictures of foods

Each Lesson Includes:

How to Present the Curriculum

• Preschool setting • Can be adapted to informal settings • Designed to present ALL 6 lessons • Can be done daily, weekly, or monthly • Read the storybook • Do the activities • Strong parent components

Lesson 1 – Overview

Objectives: • Identify the concepts and

terminology of foods

• Make the connection between healthy foods and a healthy body

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Read the Booklet

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Activity 1 – Food Cube

Activity 2 – Fill the Plate

Classroom Recipe

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Review the Lesson

Parent Letter and Recipe

Lesson 2 – Go Foods

Objectives:

• Know that foods give them energy

• Know that foods come from the Grains Group

• Identify two or more foods

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Read the Booklet (Pages 6 & 7)

Activity 1 – Making Pretzels

Activity 2 – Go With Music

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Lesson 3 – Glow Foods

Objectives:

• Know that foods make my hair shine and my eyes sparkle

• Know that foods come from the Fruit and Vegetable Groups

• Identify two or more foods

Read the Booklet (pages 8 & 9)

Activity 1 – Missing Glow Foods

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Activity 2 – Jump and Wiggle

Lesson 4 – Grow Foods

Objectives:

• Know that foods help them grow bigger and stronger

• Know that foods come from the Protein and Dairy Groups

• Identify two or more foods

Read the Booklet (pages 10 & 11)

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Activity 1 – Growing Inch by Inch

Activity 2 – Ring Around the Grow Foods

Lesson 5 – On the Move

Objectives:

• Identify at least one activity they can do to exercise their body

• Recognize that exercise keeps them healthy and strong

• Know that you “move your body when you play”

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Read the Booklet (page 12 & 13)

Activity 1 – My Plate Maze

Activity 2 – Trip to the Market

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Objectives: • Know the importance of

diligent hand washing

• Identify at least one activity that they should wash their hands before or after

Lesson 6 – Hand Washing

Read the Booklet (page 14 & 15)

Activity 1 – Germs Are Everywhere!

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Activity 2 – The Way We Wash

Questions and Answers

Acknowledgement page EDITOR: Sharon K. Junge, UCCE Emeritus AUTHORS: Sharon K. Junge, UCCE Emeritus; Rosemary Carter, Youth UC CalFresh Program Manager; Amy Netemeyer,

Youth UC CalFresh Program Representative; and Juliana Raskauskas, PhD. LAYOUT AND DESIGN: Sharon K. Junge, Frank Garrels, and Annette Cosgrove SPANISH TRANSLATIONS: Myriam Grajales-Hall, ANR News and Outreach in Spanish PILOT COUNTIES: San Diego, San Joaquin, Shasta, Placer, and Nevada Counties REVIEW TEAM: Sheri Zidenberg-Cherr, PhD, UC Davis Department of Nutrition; Karrie Heneman, PhD, UC Davis

Department of Nutrition; Susan Donohue, County Director, UCCE Butte County; Anna Martin, NFCS Advisor, UCCE San Joaquin County; Elizabeth Gong, Program Representative, UCCE Santa Clara County; Sara Candelaria, Youth UC CalFresh Coordinator, UCCE Fresno County

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT: Team Nutrition USDA for the development of the booklet and permission to use the complimentary

graphics for this curriculum. Graphics of the children are from Laura Strickand at www.mycutegraphics.com.