Fueling Up Smart! Script

(Slide 1: Fueling Up Smart!)

Teacher: "Hey everyone! Welcome! Today, we're going to talk about something super important: how the food we eat helps us feel our best. We're not talking about how food makes us look, but how it makes us feel on the inside – energetic, focused, strong, and even joyful! Our goal today is to learn some easy ways to plan meals that give our bodies what they need to thrive, and that we genuinely enjoy eating."

(Slide 2: What Do YOU Love to Eat?)

Teacher: "Let's start with a fun one! I want everyone to think about one of your absolute favorite foods. It could be anything – pizza, tacos, chicken nuggets, a fruit, a specific snack. Got one in mind? Great! Now, let's go around and share. What's one food you love to eat? And what makes it one of your favorites? Does it bring you joy?"

(Allow each student to share. Affirm their choices.)

Teacher: "Awesome! It's great to know what we enjoy. And guess what? All foods can fit into a balanced eating pattern. Food isn't just fuel; it's also about enjoyment, celebrations, and trying new flavors! Today, we're going to explore how we can include the foods we love while also adding in foods that are super helpful for our bodies. We're talking about fueling up smart and happily!"

(Slide 3: What's 'Nutritionally Dense'?))

Teacher: "So, what does it mean to 'fuel up smart'? It means choosing foods that are 'nutritionally dense.' That's a fancy term, but it just means foods that give your body a lot of good stuff – like vitamins, minerals, and energy – without you needing to eat a ton of it. Think of it like this: some foods are like tiny power-ups for your body! They help you concentrate, have energy for sports or activities, and just feel generally good throughout the day. And the best part is, nutritious food can be incredibly delicious and bring you joy! We're not sacrificing taste for nourishment here; we're finding ways to have both."

(Slide 4: Build a Balanced Plate!)

Teacher: "To help us fuel up smart, we're going to learn about building a 'balanced plate.' This is a super simple way to think about creating a meal. It’s like a checklist to make sure your plate has a good mix of things that work together to give your body all the different kinds of energy and nutrients it needs, and that make your taste buds happy."

(Slide 5: Key Food Categories)

Teacher: "Let's break down a balanced plate into four easy categories:

• Protein Power: These foods help build and repair your body and keep you feeling full. Think chicken, fish, eggs, beans, lentils, cheese, or even nuts and seeds.

  • (For picky eaters: Maybe chicken nuggets, string cheese, a hard-boiled egg. How can we make these even more enjoyable?)

• Grain Gain: These are your main source of energy! Bread, pasta, rice, oatmeal. When you can, choosing 'whole' grains (like whole wheat bread or brown rice) gives you even more lasting energy, but any grain is a good start!

  • (For picky eaters: Regular pasta, white rice, plain bread. Could we add a yummy sauce or a sprinkle of cheese?)

• Fruit & Veggie Victory: These are packed with vitamins and antioxidants that protect your body. Apples, bananas, berries, carrots, corn, peas, spinach, broccoli – there are so many options!

  • (For picky eaters: Apple slices, banana, small amount of cooked carrots, corn. Maybe dip them in a little peanut butter or ranch dressing if you like!)

• Beneficial Fats Fun: Fats get a bad rap sometimes, but beneficial fats are super important for your brain and overall body function. Avocado, nuts, seeds, olive oil are great examples.

  • (For picky eaters: A small amount of salad dressing, a few sunflower seeds, avocado on toast. Beneficial fats can add a lot of flavor!)

Teacher: "The key isn't to be perfect, but to try to get something from each of these categories into your meals when you can, choosing foods you actually enjoy. Even adding just one new food from a category you usually miss can make a big difference, especially when you find a way to make it tasty and fun!"

(Slide 6: Your Turn: Plan a Balanced Meal!)

Teacher: "Alright, now it's your turn to be the meal planning chef! I'm going to hand out this activity sheet called the Balanced Meal Planning Activity. On it, you'll see space to either:

1. Start with a favorite meal (like your pizza or chicken nuggets) and think about what key food categories might be missing. Can you add one or two items to make it more balanced and still delicious?
2. Create a brand new meal that includes items from as many key food categories as you can, choosing foods you genuinely enjoy and that sound appealing to you.

"Don't worry about being perfect. Just think about what sounds good to you and how you can add a little more 'power' and 'joy' to your plate. I'll be walking around to help if you have questions or want some ideas! You've got about 7-8 minutes for this."

(Circulate, offer guidance, and encourage creative and realistic suggestions based on individual preferences. Remind students that adding even a small amount of a new food counts, especially when it's something they find enjoyable.)

(Slide 7: Small Steps, Big Impact!)

Teacher: "Okay everyone, let's bring it back together. Who would like to share one of their balanced meal ideas? What did you come up with? What foods did you choose that bring you joy?"

(Allow a few students to share, highlight positive aspects of their planning.)

Teacher: "Fantastic ideas, everyone! Remember, fueling up smart isn't about eating 'perfectly' or following strict rules. It's about understanding how different foods help your body and making small, positive choices that add up. Even just adding an apple to your lunch, or a handful of nuts to your snack, makes a difference, especially when you choose foods you actually enjoy!

"You're all taking important steps to learn how to feel good and have great energy for whatever you want to do, while also enjoying the wonderful experience of eating. Keep practicing these small steps!

"For our exit ticket today, please fill out this Fueling Up Smart! Cool Down sheet. It's just two quick questions about what you learned. Thanks everyone!"

Balanced Meal Planning Activity

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

Your Mission: Build a Balanced Meal!

Today, we learned about key food categories that help give your body energy and keep you feeling good. Remember, food is also for enjoyment and brings us joy!

• Protein Power: (like chicken, eggs, beans, cheese)
• Grain Gain: (like bread, pasta, rice)
• Fruit & Veggie Victory: (like apples, carrots, corn)
• Beneficial Fats Fun: (like avocado, nuts, olive oil)
  
  
  Choose ONE of the options below to plan your balanced meal:

Option 1: Power Up a Favorite Meal

Think about one of your favorite meals that you already love. How can you add one or two new items from the food categories to make it even more nourishing and enjoyable?

My Favorite Meal Idea: ___________________________________________________

Which food categories do you think this meal already has?

What new food(s) can you add from a different food category to make it more balanced and still delicious?

• From __________________________ category, I could add: ________________________
• From __________________________ category, I could add: ________________________

Option 2: Create a Brand New Balanced Meal

Imagine you're making a whole new meal! Try to include foods from as many key food categories as you can, choosing foods you genuinely enjoy and that sound appealing to you.

My New Balanced Meal Idea:

• Protein Power: __________________________________________________________
• Grain Gain: ____________________________________________________________
• Fruit & Veggie Victory: ____________________________________________________
• Beneficial Fats Fun: ________________________________________________________

Why did you choose these foods? How do you think this meal would make you feel, both physically and with joy?

Fueling Up Smart! Cool Down

Name: _____________________________

Date: _____________________________

1. Name one new food idea or food category you learned about today that you might try to include in a meal.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. What is one small step you can take to make your next meal a 'Power Plate' meal?