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What's Really Fueling Your Superpowers?

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Ashley Ramsey

Tier 1
For Schools

Lesson Plan

Superpower Fuel

Students will be able to identify different food groups and their primary functions, analyze food labels to make healthier choices, and plan a balanced meal using the 'My Plate' model to enhance their energy, focus, and overall well-being.

Understanding how food fuels our bodies is crucial for maintaining energy, improving focus, and boosting overall well-being. This lesson helps students connect abstract nutrition concepts to their daily lives, empowering them to make informed choices for a healthier future.

Audience

7th Grade Class

Time

50 minutes

Approach

Interactive presentation, group activity, and individual meal planning.

Materials

Your Body's Fuel Station Presentation, Food Label Detective Challenge, My Plate Power-Up Planner, and Superpower Fuel Rubric

Prep

Teacher Preparation

15 minutes

  • Review Superpower Fuel Lesson Plan, Your Body's Fuel Station Presentation, Food Label Detective Challenge, My Plate Power-Up Planner, and Superpower Fuel Rubric materials.
    - Prepare projector/smartboard for the presentation.
    - Print copies of the Food Label Detective Challenge (one per student or pair).
    - Print copies of the My Plate Power-Up Planner (one per student).
    - Gather a variety of food labels (empty packages, printouts) for the activity.

Step 1

Warm-Up: What Fuels You?

5 minutes

  • Begin with a quick poll or show of hands: 'What did you eat for breakfast or your last meal? How does it make you feel now?'
    - Introduce the lesson title: 'What's Really Fueling Your Superpowers?' and explain that today they will discover how food impacts their personal 'superpowers' like energy and focus.

Step 2

Presentation: Your Body's Fuel Station

15 minutes

  • Present Your Body's Fuel Station Presentation.
    - Discuss the main food groups (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy) and their roles.
    - Emphasize the connection between different nutrients and energy levels, mood, and concentration.
    - Encourage questions and interactive discussion throughout the presentation.

Step 3

Activity: Food Label Detective Challenge

15 minutes

  • Distribute the Food Label Detective Challenge worksheet and various food labels.
    - Divide students into small groups or pairs.
    - Instruct them to use the food labels to answer the questions on the worksheet, focusing on identifying key nutrients, serving sizes, and ingredients.
    - Circulate to provide support and facilitate discussion.

Step 4

Application: My Plate Power-Up Planner

10 minutes

  • Introduce the 'My Plate' concept as a guide for balanced eating.
    - Distribute the My Plate Power-Up Planner worksheet.
    - Instruct students to design a balanced meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) using the My Plate guidelines, considering how their choices will 'fuel their superpowers.'
    - Remind them to think about variety and healthy options.

Step 5

Wrap-Up & Reflection

5 minutes

  • Ask students to share one insight or a healthy food choice they plan to make based on what they learned.
    - Briefly review the main takeaways.
    - Explain that their My Plate Power-Up Planner will be assessed using the Superpower Fuel Rubric.
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Slide Deck

What Fuels Your Superpowers?

How does what you eat impact how you feel, think, and perform?

Welcome students and introduce the concept of food as fuel for our bodies and our 'superpowers' like energy, focus, and mood. Ask a quick question to engage them, like 'What's one thing you ate today that made you feel energetic?'

Your Body: A Super-Powered Machine

Think of your body like a high-performance vehicle! What kind of fuel does it need?

Explain that different foods provide different types of fuel. Introduce the main food groups and briefly describe what each group generally provides.

The MyPlate Power-Up Guide

Our guide to a balanced meal: Fruits, Vegetables, Grains, Protein, and Dairy!

Focus on the 'My Plate' model as a visual guide. Explain each section: fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, and dairy. Highlight the importance of variety.

Vibrant Veggies & Fantastic Fruits

Packed with vitamins and energy to help you stay healthy and active!

Discuss fruits and vegetables. Emphasize vitamins, minerals, and fiber. Give examples and ask students for their favorites.

Go-Go Grains

Your body's main source of energy! Choose whole grains for lasting power.

Talk about grains, distinguishing between whole grains and refined grains. Explain complex carbohydrates for sustained energy.

Powerful Protein

Helps you grow strong and keeps your muscles healthy.

Discuss protein's role in building and repairing. Give examples of lean protein sources.

Dynamic Dairy

Builds strong bones and teeth to keep you feeling great.

Explain dairy's importance for strong bones. Discuss alternatives for those with dietary restrictions.

Become a Food Label Detective!

Uncover the secrets of your food by reading the nutrition facts.

Introduce the concept of food labels as a tool for making informed decisions. Explain what to look for (serving size, calories, nutrients).

What to Look For?

  • Serving Size: How much is one portion?
    - Calories: How much energy?
    - Nutrients: Sugars, Fats, Fiber, Vitamins, Protein

Review how to read serving size, calories, and key nutrients like sugar, fat, and fiber. Encourage students to compare labels.

Your Mission: Food Label Challenge

It's time to put your detective skills to the test with real food labels!

Lead into the Food Label Detective Challenge activity. Explain that they will practice using food labels to make healthy choices.

Fuel Your Future!

Making smart food choices helps you have energy, focus, and feel your best every day!

Wrap up by asking students to think about how they can apply what they learned to their own eating habits. Encourage them to be mindful of their choices.

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Activity

Food Label Detective Challenge

Your Mission: Work in your groups to examine the provided food labels and answer the questions below. Be a super detective and uncover the nutritional facts!

Materials Needed: Provided food labels, pencil/pen

Part 1: Initial Investigation

  1. Product Name: Choose one food label. What is the name of the product?



  2. Serving Size: What is the serving size for this product?



  3. Servings Per Container: How many servings are in the entire package?



  4. Calories Per Serving: How many calories are in one serving?



  5. Main Ingredients: Look at the 'Ingredients' list. What are the first three ingredients? What do these tell you about the product?






Part 2: Nutrient Analysis

  1. Sugar Content: How many grams of total sugars are in one serving?



  2. Added Sugars: Are there any 'Added Sugars'? If so, how many grams?



  3. Fat Content: How many grams of total fat are in one serving? What about saturated fat?



  4. Sodium: How much sodium is in one serving?



  5. Fiber: How many grams of dietary fiber are in one serving?



  6. Protein: How many grams of protein are in one serving?



Part 3: Detective's Report

  1. Based on your investigation, would you consider this product a healthy choice for fueling your superpowers? Why or why not? Explain your reasoning using evidence from the food label.











  2. If you were trying to make a healthier choice, what are two things you would look for on a different food label?






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Worksheet

My Plate Power-Up Planner

Your Mission: Design a super-powered meal (breakfast, lunch, or dinner) that will give you energy, focus, and help you feel your best! Use the MyPlate guide to make sure your meal is balanced.

Meal Type (circle one): Breakfast | Lunch | Dinner

My Super-Powered Meal Plan

1. Fruits

  • What fruit(s) will you include? (Aim for a variety of colors!)



  • How will these fruits help fuel your superpowers? (Think about vitamins, energy, etc.)



2. Vegetables

  • What vegetable(s) will you include? (Try to get dark leafy greens or bright colors!)



  • How will these vegetables help fuel your superpowers?



3. Grains

  • What grain(s) will you include? (Choose whole grains if possible!)



  • How will these grains help fuel your superpowers? (Think about sustained energy.)



4. Protein

  • What protein source(s) will you include? (Lean options are great!)



  • How will this protein help fuel your superpowers? (Think about building and repairing.)



5. Dairy (or Dairy Alternative)

  • What dairy or dairy alternative will you include? (Milk, yogurt, cheese, fortified plant-based milk.)



  • How will this dairy/alternative help fuel your superpowers? (Think about strong bones.)



Reflection

  1. What was the most challenging part of planning a balanced meal?






  2. What is one new thing you learned about how food fuels your body?






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Rubric

Superpower Fuel Rubric: My Plate Power-Up Planner

Student Name: ________________________

Assignment: My Plate Power-Up Planner

Instructions: This rubric will be used to assess your ability to create a balanced meal plan using the MyPlate guidelines and reflect on its nutritional impact.

Criteria4 - Exceeds Expectations3 - Meets Expectations2 - Approaches Expectations1 - Needs DevelopmentScore
MyPlate Component InclusionAll five MyPlate components (fruits, vegetables, grains, protein, dairy/alternative) are clearly included with specific, healthy food choices.All five MyPlate components are included with appropriate food choices.3-4 MyPlate components are included with some appropriate choices.1-2 MyPlate components are included, or choices are not appropriate.
Quality of Food ChoicesFood choices are consistently healthy, varied, and demonstrate a deep understanding of nutritional benefits.Food choices are generally healthy and appropriate for each MyPlate component.Some food choices are healthy, but there are areas for improvement or lack of variety.Food choices are largely unhealthy or inappropriate for a balanced meal.
Connection to "Superpowers"Thoroughly explains how each chosen food item contributes to specific 'superpowers' (energy, focus, well-being) with clear, detailed reasoning.Explains how most chosen food items contribute to general 'superpowers' (energy, focus, well-being).Attempts to explain how some chosen food items relate to 'superpowers,' but lacks detail or clarity.Little to no connection made between food choices and 'superpowers.'
Reflection QuestionsProvides thoughtful, insightful, and well-supported answers to both reflection questions, demonstrating critical thinking and personal application.Provides clear and appropriate answers to both reflection questions, showing good understanding.Answers one or both reflection questions with some clarity, but lacks depth or completeness.Answers are missing, unclear, or demonstrate minimal understanding.
Clarity and OrganizationMeal plan is exceptionally clear, well-organized, and easy to understand with logical flow and neat presentation.Meal plan is clear and organized, with a logical flow.Meal plan has some organization, but clarity could be improved in areas.Meal plan is disorganized and difficult to understand.
Total Score
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