After discussing their favorite snacks, students use movement to show which ones they think are "good-for-you" snacks. They discuss why kids need snacks, how they can tell of a snack is a nutritious, and review Five Food Group "zip-it, dip-it, roll-it and mix-it" snacks.
What You Need
What You Do:
1. Open with a discussion about students' favorite snacks - what they are and why they like them. Record their responses on the board.
2. Tell students that you're going to be talking about healthy snacks, but first you want to get an idea of whether they think their favorite snacks are healthy, "good-for-you" snacks.
- Have students stand at their desks. Go through the snack list.
- If they think the snack mentioned is a "good-for-you" snack, have them reach for the ceiling and jump once.
- If they don't think it's a "good-for-you" snack, have them touch their toes and shake their head back and forth.
- If they are not sure, have them cross their arms across their chests and twist from side to side.
3. Make some observations about their favorite snacks based the class's movements.
4. Ask students how they know if a snack is a "good-for-you" snack. Briefly discuss why kids need snacks and how they can tell of a snack is a nutritious, "good-for-you snack", making the following points:
- Snacks give you the energy you need between meals to play, learn, and grow, and that's why it's so important to choose snacks that are nutritious.
- Nutritious snacks come from the Five Food Groups - a least one, and ideally, two food groups.
- Snacks like chips, soda, candy, donuts don't give us the nutrients we need to stay healthy.
Point out "good-for-you" examples in their list of favorites. Identify and make an "X" through "Others" category snacks like chips, soda and other salty and sweet snacks.
- A good-for you snack is not too big. It should be just enough to get us to the next meal and take the edge off of our hunger. That means having four or five crackers instead of half the box, or choosing a smaller portion, not a super-size portion.
- Healthy snacks can also taste good, be easy, and fun-to-eat. Point out the reasons the mentioned for liking their favorite snacks.
5. Have a quick discussion of how hard or easy it is for them to think of new snack ideas.
6. Next, write "zip it, roll it, and mix it" across the board. Point out that thinking about these words can help them combine foods from different food groups for some fun, easy snacks that taste good.
7. Distribute the "Build-A-Snack" handout, and review each category's examples. As you review each category, have students look at their "Favorite Snack" list and identify any that might fit that category. Also, have students ask for other examples and record them on the board. Optional: Suggest other categories and examples that they might add, such as: "Re-heat It; Layer It; Stuff It."
8. Optional: Using Dairy Council's color code, have students code the foods on the handout by lightly coloring over each food's name in the appropriate food group color - Milk Group = blue; Meat Group = purple; Vegetable Group = green; Fruit Group = red; Grain Group = orange.
9. Have students identify five snack foods they like and label them with a star or a smiley face and list them under "My Favorites." On the back of their handout, have them write at least two "zip-it, dip-it, roll it, or mix it snack" snack combinations.
10. Optional: For the remainder of the year set aside one corner of a the chalkboard or a bulletin board for a "Snack of the Week" Use a combination of your own ideas and ideas that student record on the back of their worksheets or invite a different student to work with you to come up with a new idea. At the end of each week, have students share their experience trying it. Compile all of the snack ideas of the week into a Build-A-Healthy Snack Suggestions handout to send home.
Here are some suggestions to get you started:
Mix It Snack Ideas of the Week
Blend a smoothie of chocolate milk and a banana
Blend strawberries in milk or strawberry milk
Mix low-fat granola into your favorite flavor yogurt
Melt cheese on baked tortilla chips in the microwave and dip them in salsa
Dip It Snack Idea of the Week
Dip orange segments into orange-flavored yogurt
Dip French toast strips into fruit-flavored yogurt or applesauce
Roll It
Roll a string cheese in a slice of turkey
Roll leftover rice and cheese in a tortilla and heat it in the micorwave
Zip It Snack Idea of the Week
Make a salad in a bag with a little shredded cheese and low-fat dressing
