According to the 2011 National Survey of Children’s Health, 17% of children between the ages of 10 and 17 living in Maine are overweight. 12.5% of Maine’s children qualify as obese. Overweight and obese children are at risk for immediate health problems, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, asthma, and sleep apnea. These issues can lead to weight-related illnesses in adulthood. In addition to suffering from physical health issues, overweight and obese children are often targets of social discrimination and suffer from poor self esteem.

The state of Maine is working to improve the health of children living within its borders through its implementation of several nutrition programs. These  initiatives, such as the Fresh Fruit and Vegetable Program (FFVP) and the Afternoon Snack Program (ASP), focus on fighting obesity by providing children with healthy food. Although these programs have successfully introduced healthier foods into the Maine school system, food education has not accompanied them. The state does not require children to learn why the new foods it is providing are healthy. Consequently, it is not helping them establish good habits that they can carry into adulthood.

Feed ME is a food education program designed to accomplish this task. It consists of four brief (30-45 minutes) lessons. The lessons are tailored to fourth grade students. As upper elementary level students, fourth graders are beginning to make many of their own nutrition decisions. It is important that they have the tools to make choices that are good for their growing bodies. Feed ME lessons include a brief lecture accompanied by a slideshow and at least one activity to engage students with the material. Topics include whole vs. processed foods, the Food Pyramid, getting five servings of fruits and vegetables every day (“5-a-Day”), and reading nutrition labels. Food education has the power to create healthier, happier children, and I hope that this website will make it easy for you to bring nutrition into your classroom.

Want to see how these lessons have been used in a classroom?

Click here.