Youth Curricula

Happy Healthy Me...Moving, Munching & Reading Through MyPyramid for 4 to 6-Years Old is a literacy based nutrition curriculum designed to provide young children with an introduction to nutrition. This lesson teaches children messages of the USDA MyPyramid. Children form dietary habits at a young age while practicing healthy eating in fun and exciting ways. Each lesson provides the educator with easy to implement, hands-on activities that include a corresponding children’s book, objectives, nutrition activities, physical activities and other supplemental activities. Early introduction to nutrition education help young children develop positive and healthy attitudes toward food, physical activity, and overall health. Lessons are correlated to the California Department of Education (CDE) Content Standards.

 Reading Across MyPyramid:  A Nutrition Curriculum for Kindergarten through Third Grade Youth (K to Grade 3) helps young children learn about food through popular storybooks.  Included are eleven lessons containing multiple activities. Young children learn about many different foods including vegetables, fruits and pizza.  Each lesson includes a lesson preview, nutrition objectives, life skills, background information for the instructor, guidelines for discussion before and after reading the story, lesson and activities based on the USDA MyPyramid, a list of supplies needed, supplemental activities, other books children might enjoy, recipes, quiz, and letters to parents.  This curriculum correlates to the CDE Content Standards.

Eating Healthy from Farm to Fork...Promoting School Wellness (K, 1, 2) is a nutrition education curriculum that makes the connection between local food systems, garden based learning, school food service, and the establishment of healthy habits. These comprehensive materials integrate nutrition education to grade appropriate lessons that are specifically designed around the Nutrition Competencies for California Children and directly correlated to the core subjects of California Content Standards.

Nutrition to Grow On:  A Garden Enhanced Curriculum for Upper Elementary School Children (Grades 4 to 6) is a garden enhanced nutrition education curriculum consisting of nine lessons.  The curriculum aims to help students gain knowledge and skills needed to make healthy food choices and a greater appreciation of land that provides food.  The student is continually stimulated in an interactive environment.  The curriculum includes classroom and garden activities that support the CDE Content Standards. Handout masters are included. This is an original CDE publication which was developed by a faculty member at the University of California, Department of Nutrition.

EatFit (Grades 6 to 8) is a goal oriented education curriculum designed for middle school students to improve eating and fitness choices. This program uses computer technology to assist with diet assessment and guided goal setting for making healthy lifestyle choices. EatFit contains nine hands-on lessons consisting of skill building activities and social support to help students reach their goals. Topics include goal setting, label reading, fast food, breakfast, exercise, energy balance and advertising.  The EatFit package includes a magazine style workbook for every student, teacher curriculum, a website and dietary analysis, evaluation tools, slides and marketing materials.

Let's Eat Smart & Play Hard Together: A Nutrition and Fitness Curriculum for 6 to 8 Year Old Children and Their Adult Buddies
is a nutrition and physical activity curriculum designed for 6-8 year old children and significant adults in their lives.  Participants are taught about how healthy snacks and fun physical activity contribute to overall health. This curriculum allows child-adult pairs learn about nutrition and fitness while having fun together.  Participants are fully engaged in lessons through hands-on nutrition activities, making healthy fruit and vegetable snacks, and participating in fun games/activities that promote physical activity.