School Programs
Contents
Mission
To improve nutrition and physical activity knowledge and behaviors of students in schools of the region and enable them to develop positive health behaviors and attitudes.
"To foster the development of positive behaviors and the prevention of unhealthy behaviors." (CA schools Health Curriculum)
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Participating Schools
The schools that have chosen to participate in the Youth Nutrition Program (YNP) include:
- Santa Clara: Bowers*, Montague* and Westwood Elementary
- Sunnyvale: Cumberland and Lakewood* Elementary
- Mountain View: Bubb and Landels* Elementary
The city of Mountain View has included the Beyond the Bell after school programs in YNP, enabling the program to provide nutrition education to all of the elementary schools of the Mountain View-Whisman School District.
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Program Description
The program is designed to be integrated into the science and/or physical education curriculum. It consists of a minimum of eight lessons, tailored to fit into the class period. The program is provided at no cost to the schools and is delivered by a nutrition educator.
Evaluation:
- Pre- and post- tests of children to assess a change in knowledge and behavior.
- Program is delivered in the classroom in English.
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Goal and Objectives
Below are details for the goals and objectives of the fifth grade nutrition program:
A. Increase knowledge of benefits of healthy eating. By the end of the intervention:
- Students will be able to describe the five food groups.
- Students will be able to describe at least two health benefits associated with each food group.
- Students will know how many foods to consume everyday from each food group.
- Students will understand how portion size contributes to healthy eating.
- Students will be able to describe a serving size for common foods.
- Students will understand what types of juice are healthy and how much juice is appropriate to consume.
- Students will understand how calcium and vitamin D contribute to healthy bones and teeth.
- Students will be able to describe how carbonated, caffeinated beverages affect their body and brain.
- Students will be able to name at least three healthy snacks appropriate for school and after school activities.
- Students will know how advertising contributes to their food choices.
B. Increase students' skills in critical analysis of their diets and physical activity habits. By the end of the intervention:
- Students will be able to accurately analyze their diet.
- Students will understand where their diets are inadequate and how to improve their diets.
- Students will know how to appropriately address barriers to healthy eating at home and at school.
- Students will be able to contribute to the advancement of appropriate nutrition and physical activity promotion in their school.
C. Improve the eating habits of students. By the end of the intervention:
- Students will increase consumption of fruits and vegetables by one serving per day.
- Students will increase consumption of calcium-rich products by one serving per day.
- Students will decrease soda consumption to one or fewer cans per day.
D. Increase knowledge in the benefits of physical activity. By the end of the intervention:
- Students will be able to describe the health benefits of anaerobic activity.
- Students will be able to describe the health benefits of aerobic activity.
- Students will be able to describe how physical activity benefits their heart, lungs and bones.
E. Encourage and facilitate parent/teacher involvement in teaching healthy lifestyles to children.
- Build relationships with the PTA as necessary to increase parent comprehension and involvement in the program before and during the program.
- Develop at-home activities that the students will need to present to complete the course.
- Maintain web-based resources to support parent involvement.
- Provide training for teachers as to how to integrate the curriculum into their classroom lessons.
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