Solve Obesity - Games
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Healthy Eating: Lesson Plan One

Objective: Identify foods that are nutrient rich for our bodies in comparison to "junk" foods by using the stop light method.

Materials needed: Construction paper to make a stop light (black for the background, red, yellow, and green), glue, scissors, Velcro or tape, and food pictures and labels.

Procedure:

  1. Demonstrate stop light by discussing each color, and what they mean: Red means "stop", yellow means "slow down", and green means "go". Show pictures of foods for each color based on how they provide nutrition or lack of nutrition for our bodies.
  2. Have kids practice with the tools. Ask them where a food would fit based on the stoplight method. Reward them with a game (see "games").

HEALTHY EATING: Lesson Plan Two

Objective: How do we choose nutritious vitamin-rich foods?

Materials: Examples of colorful, crunchy, and natural foods: broccoli, oranges, berries, tomatoes, peppers, leafy greens, soy nuts, soybeans, yogurt, brown rice and other whole grain foods (Ex: whole wheat bread). Junk foods: candy bars, potato chips, lollipops, cookies, soda, and other refined/processed sweet and snack foods. As an alternative, bring in photos of the above foods. Print off Max and Tofu from any graphic throughout this site. Utilize Stop light, Max Glycine, and Tofu from lesson plan one. Buy or create fun "detective" badges for the kids to wear as they help Max search for healthy foods for Tofu.

Procedure:

  1. Review lesson plan one: Show how colorful and natural foods provide our bodies with important vitamins, minerals, protein and energy to help us grow and be healthy. Show the children how junk foods do not give our bodies good nutrition and take away our energy and health - foods that should be eaten only as special treats.
  2. Hand out detective badges to students and instruct them that they are now detectives helping Max Glycine find all the RED light junk foods, replacing them with nutrient and vitamin rich "yellow and green light" foods that will help Tofu remain healthy and strong.
  3. Re-emphasize why we choose more "green and some yellow light" foods, while we limit "red light" foods. Discuss important nutrients found in green and yellow light foods that help us grow. Whole grains give our bodies the energy to run and play.

Example:
Oranges: The Vitamin C in oranges will keep our bodies from catching colds and flu. Soynuts/Soymilk: Plant protein to help build muscles to keep us strong. Leafy salad greens or carrots: Beta-carotene - makes Vitamin A that helps us with our eyesight.