Nutrition Unit Letter

October 21, 2014

Dear Parents/Guardians,

On Monday our classes began our Nutrition Unit! The unit essential question is: What choices can I make to be and stay healthy? Over the course of the unit student will be learning about choices they can make to be and stay healthy. Throughout this unit students will be doing various activities to help them gain a deeper understanding of nutrition.  

The unit will be begin with students learning about myplate in order to develop healthy eating habits. After students have an understanding of the various foods in each food group, they will learn about why these foods are important for their bodies (the nutrients they contain). Students will then explore various nutrition labels, why certain food items are healthier than other food items and serving sizes. In addition, students will learn where their food comes from (how natural resources help produce food). The culminating activity will be for each student to create a healthy myplate, explain why their plate is healthy and what nutrients on their plate help them live a healthy lifestyle.

As a result of this unit:

• Students will be able to identify the five food groups.
• Students will be able to create a healthy plate containing a food from each group.
• Students will be able to name at least two reasons why it is important to eat foods from all five food groups for a healthy diet.
• Students will be able to explain that foods have nutrients that helps us grow and stay healthy.
• Students will be able to identify foods with added sugar and solid fats that should be eaten only occasionally.
• Student will be able to interpret a nutrition label

Please help us at home by helping your child develop healthy eating habits. You can also try new foods with your child to help them make healthy choices. Coming soon will be resources that will assist you in building healthy family meals. We are truly grateful for your assistance in this unit!

Natalie LaRose and Tessa Warren