Read for Health Social Media Content **Share pictures from your classroom education to post on school social media sites. ** Lesson Content/Category Twitter Facebook Hashtags/Additional info to be included Lesson 1: Fruit and Vegetables (Farmers Markets) Identify fruits & veggies Where do fruits & vegetables grow? Farmers markets Tasting: F & V Name 3 new fruits and veggies you want to try this year as a family. Predict what the taste and texture will be like. Try fresh picked produce from your local farmers market this week. Let the kids help wash the fruits and veggies at home. Students are tasting fruits and veggies from the farmers market at school this month. Be a good role model and try something new with your child. This month, [INSERT GRADE] students at [INSERT SCHOOL] are learning about fruits and veggies and where they come from. Let your child pick something new to try from your local farmer s market. #fsne SCHOOL] are learning about locally grown foods. Take a family field trip to your local farmers market. Pick a new fruit or veggie while you are there! Encourage your child to ask a farmer about the produce that they grow. #buylocal #eatsmartmd #farmersmarkets #local produce Lesson 2: Physical Activity Importance of PA Things to do to be healthy Ways to be active Dancing Dice Kids need 60 minutes of activity a day. Share some ideas over a family dinner! Suggest a walk, bike ride, game of hide and seek or tag. Students are using the Dancing Dice this month to be more active. Make your own at home with the kids! Get moving with the kids! Kids who are physically active are able to focus better and are better behaved. Keep it simple with a walk or game of catch. learning ways to be active and healthy. Have kids make a list of activities that get their hearts beating faster. Try these activities #behealthy #physicalactivity #moveyourbody #getmoving #familyfitnesschallenge #dancingdice #waystobehealthy
[INSERT GRADE] students are learning about ways to be healthy this month. Walk instead of driving to nearby places is a great start! each day this week. Encourage your child to get moving! Have a family activity challenge. Add a few more minutes each day. Instead of watching TV, play a game like Simon Says or do family chores together. Lesson 3: Picky Eaters Importance of trying different foods Identify new fruits and veggies Taste new fruits and veggies What s in that bag? SCHOOL] are tasting new fruits and veggies this week. Ask your child which was their favorite and why. Have a tasting at home! This month [INSERT GRADE] students guessed What s in that Bag? during their nutrition lesson. Try it at home. Place fruits and veggies in a bag. Let kids touch what s in the bag. Try and guess the fruit or veggie. Have a picky eater at home? Provide a bite size tasting piece, offer 1 new food to try at the start of the meal and eat together! trying new foods this month. Ask your child how many new fruits and vegetables they tasted. Which was their favorite? Try something new with your child! Do you have a picky eater? Keep offering a new food to your child. It may take up to 12 times. Be positive about it too! tasting new fruits and veggies this week. Include your child in meal prep and eat meals together when possible. Try new foods as a family! #pickyeaters #trysomethingnew #offernewfoods #tryittogether #whatsinthatbag
Lesson 4: Family Meals Importance of eating together Being a part of the family meal Make a healthy meal together Rainbow Salad Mealtime is a great time for teamwork! Ask your child if they want to help wash produce or set the table. Mixing and tearing lettuce can be done together! [INSERT GRADE] students are learning about the importance of eating together this month. Plan a family meal and do the prep work with the kids. Washing and stirring is fun for kids! Revamp your mealtime and eat together as a family. Put the electronic devices down and ask your child about their day. Need some ideas? Try these conversation starters www.go.umd.edu/convo starters Do you know that kids eat better if they get to help with meal prep? Give your child a mealtime task. Let your child help make a new recipe with you. Students are learning about eating healthy meals with their family. Kids that eat with their family also eat more fruits and veggies. Make a goal to have 3 family meals this week. #familymeals #rainbowsalad #eattogether #makeittogether #teamwork Lesson 5: All Fruits Have Seeds The purpose of fruit and seeds Plants grow from seeds A fruit is a suitcase for seeds Tasting: different fruits and seeds SCHOOL] are learning about fruits and seeds this month. Ask your child their favorite fruit and what kind of seeds it contains. Try some seeds at home with the kids! Add seeds to a salad, eat dried fruit or add beans and peas to your dinner casserole. Have a fruit tasting at home. Guess which fruit will have the most seeds. Try to predict the taste, shape and color of the This month, [INSERT GRADE] students at [INSERT SCHOOL] are learning about fruits being a suitcase for seeds. Let your child tell you about which seeds they think are good to eat. Name one cool seed fact! SCHOOL] are learning that plants grow from seeds and seeds are full of nutrients. Try a new fruit from the farmers market or grocery store! Predict how many seeds it has before you eat it. #afruitisasuitcaseforseeds #seedsareyummy #plantsgrowfromseeds #snackonseeds
seeds! Lesson 6: Keep Your Healthy Body Moving Healthy food choices Ways to be physically active Foods and activities that help make our bodies healthy Ways to keep our bodies healthy Fruits and veggies are healthy food choices! We call them always foods because we need to eat them every day. Ask your child to name a few always foods they like. Students are learning ways to keep their bodies healthy at [INSERT SCHOOL]. Make a list of healthy activities to do with your child!. Try them together this month! learning about keeping their bodies healthy and sometimes and always foods. Choose fruits and veggies as your always foods with your family. You can also stay healthy by being active together as a family! Have a family race. Be an active family! Plan time each week to get physical activity together. Turn on the music and enjoy a dance party or make an activity cube and let everyone take a turn picking the activity. #myamazingbody #healthyfoodchoices #bephysicallyactive #eatfruitsandveggies #getenoughsleep #waystostayhealthy #alwaysfoods Kids are learning about ways to keep their bodies healthy this month. Be a good role model as a parent or guardian by eating healthy, getting enough sleep and being active daily. [INSERT GRADE] students at [INSERT SCHOOL] are talking about ways to take good care of their bodies. Choose physical activities that get your body moving. Walking, running, biking and swimming are all great ideas! Lesson 7: Food Advertising Why do I need to eat fruits and veggies? Influencing others to eat more fruits and veggies Fruits and vegetables help us grow and provide energy SCHOOL] practiced convincing their family and friends to try healthy foods. Have your child practice talking to you about the importance of eating fruits and veggies. Students are learning about food advertising. Limit screen time and monitor This month, students are learning how fruits and vegetables help you grow strong. Ask them what their favorite fruit or veggie is to eat. See if they can convince you to try it. Set a good example and give it a try. learning about food advertising this month. Use your local grocery store ad and have your #foodadvertising #mangosalsa #fruitandveggiepower #eattherainbow #influenceothers
websites and games to help reduce the amount of unhealthy food ads they see. Better yet, turn off the TV and play a family game! child circle the fruits and vegetables on sale. Pick one to buy this week! Do your kids want you to buy foods they see on TV or in advertisements? Students are learning to make healthy food choices and be informed about what they eat. Lesson 8: Grocery Shopping and Cooking Together Kids help select foods at the grocery store Food prep skills Tasting: fruit kabob Cooking together as a family Teamwork makes meal prep fun in the kitchen! Kids can help make lists, prep fruits and veggies and mix ingredients. Preparing a meal is faster with more helpers. [INSERT GRADE] students are learning about grocery shopping and cooking as a family. Have kids create a healthy meals shopping list and have them find the items at the store. Have a healthy meal compliments of your own family! Prep and cook as a family this month. Try new fruits and veggies together and incorporate them into your meal. Have your family vote on 3 favorite meals this month! This month at [INSERT SCHOOL] students are learning about grocery shopping and cooking as a family. Mealtime is family time. It s a great way to get your family cooking, eating and talking on a daily basis. #groceryshoptogether #cooktogether #cookafamilymeal #fruitkebab #shoptogether #cookwithyourchild SCHOOL] are tasting fruit kebabs this month. See which fruits they tasted on their kebab. Have kids pick a new fruit or veggie at the store to try this month! Do you want your family to eat healthier? Start by getting the kids involved by reading recipes, washing produce, measuring ingredients and setting the table. Lesson: 9 Making Healthy Snack Choices Importance of: eating breakfast being active making healthy food choices SCHOOL] are learning about making healthy choices. Start by having a SCHOOL] are learning about making healthy food choices and being active. Start your day with a #healthysnacks #snacksmart #eatbreakfast #beactive
getting enough sleep Tasting: Tony s Trail Mix Who Needs to Eat Right? healthy breakfast and pack produce in your lunch! A healthy body needs healthy foods of course but don t forget about sleep! Kids 3 5 years old need 11 13 hours of sleep and 6 12 year olds need 10 11 hours of sleep each night. healthy breakfast. Be active with your child every day. Get enough sleep too! Encourage your child to include healthy behaviors every day. Pick healthy foods together, play and be active as a family. #healthyfoods #getsleep #trailmix Lesson:10 Berry Tales (MyPlate) Foodborne illness Incorporating healthy foods and habits Proper food safety techniques My Plate and making a healthy plate at mealtimes This month students at [INSERT SCHOOL] are learning about food safety and MyPlate. Ask your child about foods on MyPlate. Fill half your plate with fruits and veggies. Simple changes can help you and your family stay healthy! Eat smaller portions, increase fruits and veggies and decrease sodium and sugary foods. learning about healthy habits and creating a healthy plate. Get kids involved and let them choose which fruits and veggies will be served with dinner. Encourage your child to adopt healthy habits! As a family you can try to eat fruits and veggies from all colors of the rainbow. Students are learning about MyPlate and how to make healthy choices. Talk about MyPlate with your child. Ask your child how many MyPlate groups are on their plate at dinner. #foodborneillness #healthyfoods #healhtyhabits #foodsafety #myplate #makeahealthyplate Lesson 11: Where Do Fruits and Vegetables Grow Fruit and vegetable origin and how they grow Food prep skills What a plant needs to grow Choose different colored fruits and veggies for a variety of vitamins and minerals. Kids can pick the colors! See how many colors your child can add to their plate! This month, [INSERT GRADE] students at [INSERT SCHOOL] are learning what plants need to grow and made a salad with veggies that grow up, down and around. Name fruits and veggies with your child and see if they can tell you how they grow. #fruitveggrow #howplantsgrow #updownandaround #plantseeds #basicplantneeds
Tasting: Up, Down and Around Salad Visit the grocery store with your child. Have them pick 2 fruits or veggies and see if they can tell you how they grow. Try them at home! Kids at [INSERT SCHOOL] learned that fruits & veggies grow up, down and around. Try a new veggie with your child or make a salad with a variety of veggies together! Students are learning that fruits and vegetables grow up, down and around. Children can help plant seeds and pick fruits and veggies when they are ready. Lesson 12: Whole Grains Whole grains food group Parts of a Whole Grain Whole grains are full of nutrients and energy Tasting: Make It Myself Pizza Students are learning the benefits of eating whole grains. Look for grain foods in your pantry and decide together if they are whole grains. SCHOOL] had a whole grain stating this week. Can your child name the whole grain foods they tried? This month students are learning the importance of whole grains. Check the ingredient list and look for whole grain as the first ingredient. Students tried whole grain foods today. Keep whole grain foods like popcorn, whole wheat crackers & whole grain cereals on hand at home for your family. #wholegrains #makeitmyselfpizza #partsofawholegrain #wholegrainsaregreat #healthywholegrains Lesson 13: The Scoop on Soil How soil helps healthy plants grow Different particles in soil Kids are learning all about soil! Ask your child how soil stays healthy. Why is healthy soil so important? [INSERT GRADE] students are learning how important healthy soil can be. How many daily items can your child name that began with healthy soil? Soil is super! #healthysoil #soilcups #thescooponsoil #containergardening #healthysoilhealthyfood Healthy food starts with healthy soil Edible soil cups Our [INSERT GRADE] students are making edible soil cups. Many different particles make up soil. Name 2 with your child. SCHOOL]made edible soil cups to see the different layers of the soil. Ask your child how many layers it contained. Make the recipe at
Start a container garden with your family. It s simple. Recycle a milk container, add some potting mix and choose some seeds. Give it some space, sunlight, water and love too! home: www.go.umd.edu/soil cups This month students are learning the scoop on soil. We all depend on soil to survive for everything from cow milk to ketchup that came from tomatoes grown in the soil. Be thankful for healthy soil! Lesson 14: Healthy Gardens What plants need to grow Planting a garden Healthy gardens are fun and beneficial for kids Plan and taste a salsa garden Do you want your kids to eat more fruits and veggies? Plant a garden with simple materials like recycled containers. Let the kids decide what they will plant in the family garden. Watch your garden grow! Students learned what it takes to have a healthy garden. Plan to grow your own fruit or veggie this year with your child. Students are learning about healthy gardens this month and making salsa. Make a garden on a plate at home with your child. Kids choose the veggies! www.go.umd.edu/garden plate Save money by starting your own garden with your family. Use recycled containers from your home! Enjoy your own homegrown, healthy, fresh fruits and veggies in a few months. #healthygardens #gardenathome #tasteasalsagarden # plantagarden #whatplantsneed Lesson 15: Food from the Earth Food begins with seeds Soil, sun and rain help plants grow Fruits and veggies and eating different parts of the plant Garden in a Glove Student are learning about foods we eat that start from seeds. Can your child name foods that begin with seeds? Hint: most fruits, vegetables, nuts and grains! Students are making a Garden in a Glove this week. Ask your child what 5 seeds that they plants. learning about how food begins with seeds and making their own Garden in a Glove. See if your child has observed any seedlings beginning to sprout! Kids are learning about food from the earth this month. Encourage your child to eat a variety of fruits and veggies. Remember different parts of the plant provide energy #foodfromtheearth #seedsoilsun #foodbeginswithaseed #gardeninaglove
that kids need. Students are discovering that seed, sun and soil are required for healthy plants to grow. Can your child tell you why they are important. Lesson 16: The MyPlate Food Groups MyPlate and eating 5 food groups Importance of trying new foods Food groups provide variety Aim for 3 food groups per meal Students are learning about MyPlate and the importance of eating from all food groups. See if you can add a healthy food group choice to dinner this week. Let your child pick! SCHOOL] took the Two Bite Club test this month. Look for MyPlate coloring page and the Two Bite Club certificate in the backpack. Have your child choose a new vegetable and try the two bite rule at home. This month students at [insert school] are learning about the importance of trying new foods, even if it s two bites. Ask your child which foods they tried and if they liked them. Try using the two bite rule at home! [INSERT GRADE] students are learning about MyPlate and the 5 food groups. Can you name them all? Have your child quiz you and tell you what you missed. #twobiteclub #fivefoodgroups #trynewfoods #myplate #mixitup Lesson 17: Serving Yourself Listening to your body s hunger cues Eating a variety of fruits and veggies Kids participating in the kitchen Mindful eating [INSERT GRADE] kids are learning to listen to their bodies and know when they are hungry or full. Encourage your child to slow down when eating. Allow kids to serve themselves at mealtime. Fruits and veggies are a great source of water! Take them on the go as a healthy Did you know that kids who eat with their families tend to be healthier eaters? Be a good role model too. Try new healthy foods with your child. Students are learning about serving themselves this month. Letting your child put food on their plate helps them to learn to pay attention to their body and know how much they should eat. #serveyourself #hungercues #perfectparfait #eatavariety #timetoeat
snack. Don t forget your reusable water bottle too. Lesson 18: Farm to Table Where the food we eat comes from Steps for food to get from farm to table Eating locally grown, in season foods Farm to Table tasting Students learned that it takes hard work to get food from the farm to our table. Visit a farmers market and tell a farmer thank you. Visit a local farm or your farmers market and see where your food comes from. Pick locally grown foods and have a taste test with the kids! This month, [INSERT GRADE] students at [INSERT SCHOOL] learned that it takes hard work to get foods from the farm to our table. At mealtime, pick a foods you are eating and talk to your child about how it got from the farm to your table. SCHOOL] are learning about locally grown foods. Take a family field trip to your local farmers market. Pick a new fruit or veggie to try while you are there! #farmtotable #farmersmarket #eatlocal #beforeweeat Lesson 19: Drink More Water Drinking water How water helps our bodies Water comes from foods we eat [INSERT SCHOOL] learned the importance of drinking water every day. Talk to your child about replacing sugary drinks with water. Students learned the importance of water this month. Talk to your child about ways they get water every day. Hint: drinking water and food we eat. [INSERT SCHOOL] learned the importance of drinking water every day. Talk to your child about replacing sugary drinks with water. Students learned the importance of water this month. Talk to your child about ways they get water every day. Hint: water can also come from eating fruits and vegetables. #fsne #drinkwater #sipsays #rethinkyourdrink Lesson 20: Move Your Body Ways to be physically active Difference in aerobic Students learned that being active is important to have a healthy body. Students tried different types of Students learned that being active is important to have a healthy body. Students tried different types of exercise this week. Have #moveyourbody #physicalactivity #getmoving #beactive
and anaerobic exercises Physical activity practice exercise this week. Have your child show you some examples and be active with them! Students learned the difference between exercise and physical activity this month. Students set up stations and tried different activities. Try it at home as a family! your child show you some examples and be active with them! Students learned the difference between exercise and physical activity this month. Students set up stations and tried different activities. Try it at home as a family! Lesson 21: What s for Lunch? Foods from farm to table Maryland grown foods Foods that are served on the school lunch line SCHOOL] learned about how foods is transformed from harvest to your dinner plate. Think about the foods that are served at your dinner table. SCHOOL] learned how foods are grown and go from the farm to the school lunch line. Ask your child what they had for lunch today and see if they can tell you how they were grown? SCHOOL] learned where foods grown in Maryland and talked about foods that are served on the school lunch line. Look at the school lunch menu and talk to your child about how the foods were grown and harvested. SCHOOL] talked about how foods are grown and harvested on the farm. Think about the foods that you serve at dinner. How were they grown and harvested to get to your plate? Visit a local farmers market and encourage your child to talk to a farmer. Ask the farmer about what fruits and vegetables they grow on their farm. #farmtotable #schoolmealsrock #eatschoollunch #askafarmer #mdgrown