BALANCED NUTRITION PROGRAM

Balanced Nutrition Program

Balanced Nutrition Program

Introduction

Along with basic information like shapes, numbers, and colors, another important lesson to teach children is preschool nutrition information. Games provide an atmosphere that encourages fun and learning without the student realizing it. There are several ways preschool teachers can incorporate health and healthy eating into their lesson plans. First, however, students must grasp the concept of healthy foods versus junk foods. They must also have the ability to categorize foods into their respective food groups. This article provides several games and activities ideas to introduce food groups and healthy eating to preschool students.

Encouraging proper eating habits is not an easy task in this world of fast foods and run-out-the-door meals. Study nutrition with these activities and help your preschoolers become aware of how food influences their everyday lives. These crafts are fun to make and will teach concepts of healthy eating using art projects that hopefully will open a discussion at home.

Discussion

The preschool years refer to the ages between 2 or 3 and 5. The child grows and develops rapidly at this stage, changing in shape from a toddler to a child and gaining in independence. Cognitive, social, emotional and physical developments are closely related. Play both helps and demonstrates physical development. A child building a tower of bricks, for instance, will show eye-hand coordination and gross and fine muscle development. He also shows cognitive development through his understanding of the concept of the tower. If he is chatting to another child at the time this demonstrates emotional and social development. (Tassoni, 2004)

Diet Basics

Knowing what the preschooler and elementary students needs to eat each day can help the parents and teachers provide a balanced and healthy diet, but because your preschooler's appetite can vary, she may not always eat what parents offer. To prevent battles during mealtimes, do not force the elementary student and preschooler to eat if he or she is not hungry. A basic daily diet for preschoolers should include 1 1/2 cups of vegetables, 1 to 1 1/2 cups of fruit, four to five servings of grain, 2 cups of milk and 3 to 4 oz. of meat or beans.

A Handy Chart of the Food Groups

As the children begin to study the new Food Pyramid, they will see colorful vertical stripes in a pyramid shape of the six categories of the foods we eat. Good food gives their bodies the nutrients they need for growth, energy, and good health. Children need to realize that they need to eat a balanced diet of foods from each group especially pre-school and elementary students. Here is a handy craft for the preschoolers and elementary students to make and take home as a reminder of the food groups, and a good way to start a discussion on healthy foods at home. (Taylor & Francis, 2009)

Procedure

Have an adult trace around the child's hand in the middle of a sheet of white paper.

The teacher can take a black marker and write the food groups on ...