Food for Thought... and Energy Too!

Food fuels our bodies. The foods we eat can give us energy, build strong bones, and maintain our muscle. Explore the ways each food group contributes to our health, and design a dazzling reusable shopping bag to remind you which foods your body needs!

• 1.

  Eat your vegetables! Have you ever been told that before? Why? What is the benefit of consuming all those colorful fruits and veggies? Discuss the importance of eating fruits and vegetables with your classmates. How many benefits can you identify?

• 2.

  What other foods does your body need? Explore the food pyramid with your class. You will find grains, dairy, protein, fruits, vegetables, and oil represented on the pyramid. In what ways does each of these groups contribute to the nutrition of a healthy body? How much of each group should you eat every day to get all the vitamins and minerals your body requires?

• 3.

  The grocery store is a great place to find all the delicious, nutritious foods recommended on the food pyramid. To help you make good selections while shopping, create a vibrant design on a reusable shopping bag with Crayola® Bright Fabric Markers! Draw the foods you love from each of the groups on the food pyramid!

• 4.

  For the best results, use a shopping bag that is 100% cotton fabric. Place a piece of paper underneath the drawing area to prevent bleed through. Draw your design, making sure you saturated the cloth. When you are finished, ask an adult to iron your design. Set iron on cotton setting and iron on the reverse side using a back and forth motion for 4 minutes. Or place garment in the dryer for 30 minutes on the hottest setting. This will fix the color to the fabric.

• 5.

  Stain Advisement: Fabric markers are permanent on clothing and contain colorants that may stain household surfaces. Wear a smock to protect clothing and cover your work surface. Recap markers as soon as possible and store in a horizontal position. Do not shake markers.

• 6.

  Be creative! Add a fun border or decorative details to your shopping bag. Share your design with the class when completed. Tell the students why you chose the foods on your bag and how those foods keep you healthy!

Benefits

• Students examine the food pyramid and identify the food groups.
• Students connect the nutritional needs of their bodies to foods recommended on the food pyramid and discuss the benefits of consuming foods from each group.
• Students decorate a reusable shopping bag with their favorite nutritious foods as a reminder to make healthy selections at the grocery store.

Adaptations

• Invite a local doctor or nutrition specialist to visit the class and present the benefits of a healthy lifestyle as well as the consequences of unhealthy choices. Encourage the students to ask questions and participate in the topics being discussed. Think of a simple change you can make right now that would lead to a healthier life. Create a class banner on which each student designs a symbol representing a step he or she will make toward healthy living. Use Crayola Classic Markers for rich, colorful drawings! Display the banner in the school to promote good health and nutrition.
• Assessment: Invite students to share their shopping bag designs with the class. Discuss how the foods drawn on the bags impact their health.