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Mood Food

Lesson Plan

Mood Food Lesson Plan

Students will explore how nutrition’s impact on emotional health by plotting foods on a mood–energy map and setting personal goals to choose mood-supporting foods.

A visual map helps learners see how different foods affect both energy and mood, promoting better self-regulation and healthier choices through clear, hands-on practice.

Audience

7th Grade

Time

15 minutes

Approach

Visual mapping and reflection

Materials

Nutrition Mood Scenario Cards, - Food Mood Map, - Pencils and Markers, - Mood Reflection Worksheet, and - Timer

Prep

Prepare Materials

5 minutes

Step 1

Warm-Up Discussion

3 minutes

  • Ask: “Think of a time you felt a strong emotion. What did you eat before or after?”
  • Have students share one example each.
  • Use the starter: “I felt __ after eating __ because __.”
  • Provide visuals or sentence frames for support.

Step 2

Food Mood Map Activity

8 minutes

  • Divide students into pairs and give each pair Nutrition Mood Scenario Cards and a Food Mood Map.
  • Explain the map axes: horizontal is energy level (low ▶️ high), vertical is mood impact (low ▶️ high).
  • Students read each card, discuss, and place it on the map where they think the food belongs.
  • Circulate and ask probing questions: “Why does this food go here?” or “How might this choice affect you later?”
  • Offer reading or visual support as needed.

Step 3

Cool-Down Reflection

4 minutes

  • Hand out the Mood Reflection Worksheet.
  • Students list two foods that help their mood and two to avoid, then write one personal goal.
  • Invite volunteers to share their goal.
  • Collect worksheets for review and future planning.
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Slide Deck

Mood Food: Linking Nutrition and Emotions

In this 15-minute lesson, we’ll discover how certain foods can boost or lower our mood and set a personal goal to eat for emotional well-being.

Welcome students! Today we’re exploring how what we eat can affect how we feel. Briefly introduce yourself and the lesson objective: linking nutrition and emotional health.

Warm-Up Discussion (3 minutes)

Think of a time you felt a strong emotion. What did you eat before or after?

• Share one example with the group.
• Use this starter: “I felt ___ after eating ___ because ___.”

Read the prompt aloud. Encourage every student to share. Use sentence starters if needed. Record a few responses on the board.

Food Mood Map Activity (8 minutes)

  1. In pairs, grab your Nutrition Mood Scenario Cards and a Food Mood Map.
  2. Review the map axes:
    • Horizontal: Energy Level (low ▶️ high)
    • Vertical: Mood Impact (low ▶️ high)
  3. Read each card, discuss, and place it on the map where you think the food belongs.
  4. Discuss: Why did you place this food here? How might this choice affect you later?

Explain the map axes and hand out materials. Model one scenario card placement together. Then let pairs work. Circulate and prompt deeper thinking with questions like “Why did you place this here?”

Foods That Boost or Lower Mood

Foods That May Boost Mood:
• Fresh fruits and vegetables
• Whole grains (oatmeal, brown rice)
• Nuts and seeds

Foods That May Lower Mood:
• Sugary snacks and soda
• Processed fast food
• High-fat fried foods

Highlight examples from the map and invite students to think of their own favorite foods in each quadrant. Use visuals if available.

Cool-Down Reflection (4 minutes)

Complete your Mood Reflection Worksheet:

  1. List two foods that help your mood.
  2. List two foods you’d like to avoid.
  3. Write one personal goal for next week to eat for a better mood.

Distribute the worksheet. Encourage honest reflection. After 3 minutes, invite 2–3 students to share their personal goal.

Wrap-Up & Next Steps

Great work today!

• Keep a short journal: What you ate and how you felt.
• Notice patterns and share at our next check-in.

Thank students for their participation. Encourage them to notice how different foods make them feel this week.

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Activity

Nutrition Mood Scenario Cards

Instructions: Read each scenario card below. Discuss with your partner whether the food choice is likely to boost mood or lower mood, then place the card on the correct part of your Food Grouping Mats.

  1. After a tough math test, Javier feels stressed and reaches for a bag of salty potato chips and a can of soda.



  1. It’s a cold, rainy morning, and Mia warms up with a bowl of oatmeal topped with fresh berries and a drizzle of honey.



  1. Lena got into an argument with her friend and decides to comfort herself with a large scoop of chocolate ice cream.



  1. Before soccer practice, Aaron eats a banana with a spoonful of peanut butter and drinks a glass of water.



  1. After staying up late on screens, Sam grabs an energy drink and a candy bar to wake up.



  1. Feeling low on energy during afternoon class, Zoe munches on a handful of mixed nuts and seeds.



  1. During a study break, Priya picks up a piece of dark chocolate and savors it slowly.



  1. Walking home hungry, Carlos stops for a fast-food burger, fries, and a milkshake.



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Worksheet

Mood Reflection Worksheet

Name: ______________________ Date: _____________

  1. List two foods that help your mood:

a. ________________________________________



b. ________________________________________


  1. List two foods you would like to avoid because they may lower your mood:

a. ________________________________________



b. ________________________________________


  1. Write one personal goal for next week to choose foods that support your emotional health:

________________________________________





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Activity

Food Mood Map

Instructions: Plot each card from Nutrition Mood Scenario Cards on the map according to its energy level (low ▶️ high) and mood impact (low ▶️ high).

Low EnergyHigh Energy
High Mood







Low Mood







→ Energy Level (Low ▶️ High)

↑ Mood Impact (Low ▶️ High)

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Mood Food • Lenny Learning