Nutrition and Fitness
Curriculum for Youth
Focus on Healthy Snacks
Rebecca Davis
Extension Agent
Family and Consumer Sciences,
Nutrition
Virginia Tech Cooperative Extension
Sandy Corridon
UFC Used by
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Military Childcare Facilities
4-H Clubs
Boys’ and Girls’ Clubs
After-school child care programs
In-school health, PE and FCS programs
Parks and Recreation Programs
4 Key Questions
 How can we help youth shift to
healthier habits to last a lifetime?
 How can we prevent eating problems
and overweight youth?
 How can we reduce sedentary time by
building physical activity into a child’s
or youth’s day?
 How can we help each child to be
healthier at their current size?
Recommendations
2010 Dietary Guidelines
Choose MyPlate
UFC
Nutrition Lessons Focus on
 Making smart food choices to include
all food groups
 Understanding the balance between
diet and activity
Recommendations
Physical Activity
Department of Health and Human
Services 2008 PA Guidelines for
Americans
Children and adolescents should do 60
minutes or more of physical activity
daily.
Recommendations
Physical Activity
 Aerobic (cardio-vascular): Most of the
60 minutes should be moderate or
vigorous intensity aerobic activity at
least three days per week.
 Muscle Strengthening: Part of the 60
minutes should be muscle-strengthening
activity at least three days per week
(climbing trees, playground equipment,
unstructured play)
Recommendations
Physical Activity
 Bone Strengthening: Part of the 60
minutes should be bone
strengthening activity at least three
days per week (running, jumping
rope, basketball, tennis, hopscotch).
Curriculum Format
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5 chapters
290 pages
Age appropriate lessons
Recipes, fitness and science
Take home activities
Technology challenge
UFC has been reviewed by
 American Heart Association
The curriculum was selected for inclusion in the
national Healthy Schools Program Resource
Database. Resources that are accepted by
the Healthy Schools Alliance are found to be
in alignment with one or more of the
Healthy Schools Program Framework
Criteria and consistent with American
Heart Association standards for scientific
validity and accuracy.
UFC has been reviewed by
 http://www.4militarypartnerships.org/
Military Partnership
 CYFERnet, the Children, Youth,
Families Educational Research Network
(USDA), and was accepted for inclusion
on their website in the School Age
Educational Materials, Healthy
Lifestyles category
Lesson Format
Outcomes
• School age
• Middle
• Teen
Instructor Essential
Information
Discussion
Multiple Activities
Reflection questions
Application to other
situations
Cooking Activity
Preparation
Set Up
Supplies
Time
Technology Challenge
Chapter 1 – Back to Basics
Intro to nutrition and physical activity
•Get in the Movement Groove and MyPlate
•Good Hygiene
•In Beat the Heartbeat
•Muscle Mania
•Picking Protein
•Flexibility is Fabulous
•Eating Rainbows
•Think Your Drink
•Grainy Brainy
Chapter Snapshot
Focus on Snacks
Chapter 1
Lesson 2 – MyPlate the Beginning Challenge
1.
2.
3.
4.
Short discussion on using MyPlate as a guide to healthy eating
Activity to estimate daily caloric needs
Build an eating plan
“Snacktivity”
MyPlate Kabobs ( cheese cubes, cherry tomatoes, lean turkey
slices, pineapple, whole wheat pretzel sticks (or crackers), or
whatever fruit and veggies are in season.
Chapter Snapshot
Focus on Snacks
Chapter 1
Lesson 5 – Think Your Drink
1. Short discussion on the importance of calcium for bones and
other bodily functions
2. Milk taste test
3. Test tube activity that illustrates fat content of milk
4. Sugar in soda activity
5. “Snacktivity”
Make Your Own Drinks: fruit juice spritzer (orange/pineapple
juice, seltzer water; juice float (fruit juice, frozen yogurt);
smoothie (fresh or frozen fruit, plain yogurt, ice cubes).
Chapter 2 – Healthy
Decisions for Living Well
•Body Image: Healthy Comes in Lots of
Sizes
•Calories In and Calories Out
•Do You See What I See?
Chapter 3 – Fueling the Body
•Nutrient Knowledge
•Break it Up – Breakfast First!
•Snack Attack
•Vegetarianism in a Nutshell
•The Truth about Vitamins, Steroids and Supplements
•Energy Drinks and Foods
Chapter Snapshot
Focus on Snacks
Chapter 3
Lesson 2 – Break it Up, Breakfast First
1.
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Short discussion about importance of breakfast
Brainstorming breakfast activity
Plan a breakfast activity
“Snacktivity”
Banana Dogs (peanut butter, whole grain hot dog bun, raisins
or other dried fruit)
Breakfast Taco (corn tortilla, cheese, salsa)
Chapter Snapshot
Focus on Snacks
Chapter 3
Lesson 3 – Snack Attack
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Short discussion about pros and cons of snacking
Go Slow Whoa activity
Reading snack labels activity
Fat in snack activity
“Snacktivity”
MyPlate Pita Pizzas (whole wheat pita bread, spaghetti or
pizza sauce, red bell pepper, canned pineapple, low-sodium
ham, reduced fat cheese)
Chapter 4 – Consumer Challenge
•Selling or Telling
•Which Sport which Shoe?
•Label Lingo
•Media Mania
•Eating Out
•New and Unusual Foods
•It’s all about Size: Portion Distortion
Chapter Snapshot
Focus on Snacks
Chapter 4
Lesson 6 – New and Unusual Foods
1. Short discussion about trying new foods and the importance of
variety to a balanced diet
2. New foods taste test activity
3. “Snacktivity”
Crazy Mix Veggie Burgers (whole wheat buns, veggie burgers,
assorted cheeses and vegetables for toppings)
Savory School Paste (can of navy beans, garlic, olive oil,
lemon juice, s&p, precut cauliflower, broccoli and carrots)
Chapter 5 – Activity for Life
•Walk Your Way to Fitness
•Let’s Play Outside
•Jump into Fitness
•Dancing for All Seasons
•Cooperative Play
•Planning a Wellness Event
http://www.extension.umd.edu/4-h
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UFC Evaluation Guidelines
UFC Focus on Food Pre-Post
UFC Jump Rope Pre-Post
UFC DILQ 7-10 School
UFC DILQ 7-10Summer
UFC DILQ 11-13 School
UFC DILQ 11-13 Summer
UFC Initial Application Part 2
UFC Parent Letter
UFC Child Assent Form
Line Em Up
Line Em Up Key
Body of Water Game
Evaluation surveys for your use
(7-10 year olds - inconsistent audiences)
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