Stand Up or Sit Down for Nutrition

Lesson Title: Stand Up or Sit Down for Nutrition

Lesson Objectives: Students will identify healthy and unhealthy foods.

Grade(s): K-3

Location(s) to play: Classroom or cafeteria

Time: 15 minutes

Summary of Tasks/Actions:

  1. For this activity, the afterschool counselor will name a specific food that is either healthy or unhealthy.
  2. For the healthy foods, the students stand up or perform a specific exercise, such as jumping jacks, squats, lunges, etc.

For the unhealthy foods, the students sit down.

Materials/Equipment: None

Follow-Up Questions:

  1. What did you think of this game?
  2. What did you learn from the game?
  3. What would you change to make the learning stronger?

Extension Activity:

Prepare a lesson on the reasons why each food mentioned is healthy or unhealthy. Explain the health benefits of eating healthy and the harmful effects of eating unhealthy. Use the following resources:

  1. http://www.nourishinteractive.com/nutrition-education-printables (worksheets for healthy food groups)
  2. http://www.momjunction.com/articles/effects-eating-junk-food-children_0015799/#gref
  3. https://www.thenational.ae/lifestyle/family/the-immediate-effect-fast-food-has-on-children-1.317147

Answer Key:

Examples of healthy foods: Eggs, fish, chicken, turkey, beans, carrots, spinach, apples, oranges, cherries, strawberries, whole wheat bread, lentils, chickpeas, avocados

 

Examples of unhealthy foods: French fries, hamburgers, fried chicken, biscuits, bacon, potato chips, candy, chicken nuggets, pizza, ice cream