Decoding Nutrition: Healthy Choices

Kimberly Burns

Tier 1

Lesson Plan

Decoding Nutrition: Healthy Choices

Understand and plan healthy meals

Students will learn the importance of nutrition and how to make healthy food choices. The lesson includes a comprehensive video on reading nutrition facts, followed by interactive activities such as meal planning and a cooking demonstration. This lesson will equip students with practical skills to make informed dietary choices, promoting long-term healthy habits.

Audience

9th Grade Students

Time

1 hour

Approach

Understand and plan healthy meals

Materials

Whiteboard and markers, Projector and screen, Printout of a nutrition label, Various food items, Cooking utensils, Ingredients for a simple healthy snack, 'How to Read Nutrition Facts' Video, Meal Planning Worksheet, and Discussion Guide

Step 1

Introduction

5 mins

Briefly introduce the topic of nutrition and its importance.
Ask students what they know about healthy eating and nutrition labels.

Step 2

Video Viewing

6 mins

Show the video 'How to Read Nutrition Facts' to the class.
Encourage students to take notes on key points.

Step 3

Discussion

10 mins

Engage students in a discussion based on the video.
Use the provided discussion guide to facilitate conversation about what they learned from the video.

Step 4

Interactive Activity: Meal Planning

15 mins

Divide students into small groups.
Provide each group with a Meal Planning Worksheet.
Ask students to plan a balanced meal using the principles learned from the video and labels provided.
Each group will present their planned meal to the class.

Step 5

Cooking Demonstration

15 mins

Conduct a simple cooking demonstration of a healthy snack.
Involve students by assigning them small tasks during the demonstration.
Discuss the nutritional benefits of the ingredients used.

Step 6

Wrap-Up and Q&A

9 mins

Summarize the key points covered during the lesson.
Open the floor for any final questions or comments from students.
Encourage students to apply what they've learned to their daily eating habits.

0 educators
use Lenny to create lessons.

No credit card needed

Worksheet

Meal Planning Worksheet

Use this worksheet to plan a balanced meal based on the principles of good nutrition learned in the lesson.

List the foods you included in your meal plan. Include portion sizes.

Explain why you chose each food item based on its nutritional value.

Calculate the total calories, fats, carbohydrates, and proteins in your meal.

Discuss how your meal meets the criteria for a balanced diet.

Discussion

Nutrition Discussion Guide

Discussion questions to engage students in thinking critically about nutrition and healthy eating.

Why is it important to read and understand nutrition labels?

Discuss how nutrition labels can help in making informed choices; emphasize understanding serving sizes and ingredients.

What are some common misconceptions about healthy eating?

Address myths like 'all fats are bad' or 'all carbohydrates are unhealthy.'

How can we apply what we learned about nutrition labels to our daily lives?

Think about practical ways to read labels while shopping and making food choices.