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Are You Fueling Your Body Right?

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Lesson Plan

Healthy Fuel Blueprint

Students will evaluate their daily snacks and meals against nutrition guidelines, identify healthy food groups, and create a balanced meal plan to foster smarter eating habits.

Teaching nutrition empowers 6th graders to make informed food choices, boosting energy, focus, and lifelong health while preventing poor eating habits.

Audience

6th Grade Students

Time

45 minutes

Approach

Interactive poll, slide presentation, group discussion, and hands-on workshop

Materials

Prep

Prepare Materials

10 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up: Snack Attack Poll

5 minutes

  • Introduce the lesson by asking students about their go-to after-school snacks
  • Launch the Snack Attack Poll for anonymous input
  • Display live results and prompt a brief discussion on surprising findings

Step 2

Presentation: Nutrition 101 Slides

10 minutes

  • Present key concepts using Nutrition 101 Slides, covering macronutrients and food group benefits
  • Pause to define terms and invite student questions
  • Highlight how choices affect energy and health

Step 3

Discussion: Categorize Foods

10 minutes

  • Split students into small groups with chart paper and markers
  • Provide sample snack/meal cards for classification into food groups
  • Have each group share their categorization and debate healthier swaps

Step 4

Activity: Build-a-Meal Workshop

15 minutes

  • Distribute Build-a-Meal Workshop templates
  • Students design a balanced meal, labeling each component by food group
  • Circulate to guide choices and reinforce slide concepts

Step 5

Reflection: Exit Ticket

5 minutes

  • Ask students to write one change they will make to their snack or meal choices and explain why
  • Collect responses to assess understanding and plan follow-up
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Slide Deck

Nutrition 101: Fueling Your Body

In this mini‐lesson, we’ll learn:

  • What macronutrients are
  • The five MyPlate food groups
  • How food choices affect our energy and health

Let’s dive in!

Welcome the students and introduce the topic. Explain that today’s focus is on the three macronutrients and the five food groups, and how they give us energy and keep us healthy.

What Are Macronutrients?

• Carbohydrates – main source of energy
• Proteins – build & repair tissues
• Fats – support brain & cell health

Question: Which macronutrient do you think your body uses first for energy?

Define macronutrients: nutrients we need in large amounts. Emphasize their roles and pose the question to get them thinking.

Carbohydrates

• Provide quick energy
• Found in fruits, grains, vegetables
• Simple carbs vs. complex carbs

Prompt: What’s your go-to carb‐rich snack?

Explain simple vs. complex carbs. Show pictures of fruits, bread, and veggies. Encourage students to call out their favorite carb foods.

Proteins

• Build and repair cells & muscles
• Found in meat, beans, legumes, dairy, nuts
• Help you feel full longer

Prompt: Name a high-protein snack you enjoy.

Describe how proteins help muscles recover and grow. Show examples (chicken, beans, nuts). Ask students to name protein snacks they like.

Fats

• Essential for brain function & cell health
• Sources: oils, nuts, seeds, dairy
• Choose mostly unsaturated fats

Prompt: Can you think of a healthy fat source?

Distinguish between healthy (unsaturated) and less healthy fats. Show images of avocado, olive oil, and butter. Ask for examples of each.

MyPlate Food Groups

• Fruits • Vegetables • Grains • Protein • Dairy

Aim for a colorful plate every meal!

Question: Which food group do you think you need more of?

Introduce the MyPlate model. Display a colorful MyPlate graphic. Explain each section and serving ideas.

How Food Fuels Your Energy

• Carbs break down into glucose
• Proteins & fats provide sustained energy
• Skipping meals = energy crashes

Prompt: When do you feel most energized during the day?

Show a simple diagram of how food is converted to energy (glucose → ATP). Explain why balanced meals keep energy steady.

Quick Check

Which macronutrient do you think is most important for your afternoon energy? Why?

Use this slide to check for understanding. Encourage students to share ideas with a partner before opening to the class.

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Warm Up

Snack Attack Poll Warm-Up

Kick off the lesson by quickly gathering students’ favorite after-school snacks and reflecting on their nutritional value.

Time: 5 minutes
Materials: Device with polling tool (e.g., Mentimeter, Kahoot!, Google Forms) or simply use a show of hands and tally on board.

Instructions:

  1. Display or read aloud the question below.
  2. Invite students to respond anonymously via your chosen polling method or by raising hands.
  3. Show the live results and note which snacks are most/least popular.
  4. Prompt a brief discussion:
    • Which of these snacks give you quick energy?
    • Which might lead to an energy crash?
    • How could you swap a less-healthy choice for something more nutritious?

Poll Question:
What is your go-to after-school snack?

Options (choose one):

  • Chips
  • Fruit (apple, banana, etc.)
  • Candy or sweets
  • Yogurt or cheese
  • Granola/protein bar
  • Other (write in)



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Activity

Build-a-Meal Workshop

Time: 15 minutes
Materials: Workshop template (one per group), pencils, colored pencils, markers

Instructions

  1. Split into small groups of 3–4 students.
  2. Distribute the Build-a-Meal Workshop template to each group.
  3. On your blank plate diagram, choose and draw or list one food item from each MyPlate food group:
    • Fruits
    • Vegetables
    • Grains
    • Proteins
    • Dairy
      (Hint: Aim for a colorful plate and include at least one complex carbohydrate, one protein source, and a healthy fat)
  4. Label each item with its food group and write one sentence about how it helps your body (example: “Spinach is a vegetable that gives me iron for energy”).
  5. Discuss with your group: Which macronutrients did you include? How will your meal help you stay energized?

Share & Reflect (5 minutes)

  • Each group presents their plate to the class.
  • Prompt with questions:
    • Why did you choose these foods?
    • How does this meal help avoid energy crashes?
    • If you could swap one item, what would it be and why?

Personal Action Plan

On your own side of the worksheet, plan one healthier swap you could make to a snack or meal you eat this week. Explain why this change matters to your energy and health.













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