National School Breakfast Week was created more than 20 years ago to raise awareness of the School Breakfast Program. Now, schools are celebrating the week with fun breakfast promotion activities. This year’s theme is “School Breakfast Ready Set Go!” You can find breakfast facts and free printable resources on the School Nutrition Association’s web site.
Interested in more breakfast resources? Check out what breakfast teaching tools have to offer.
Houston, Texas is one step ahead of the rest of us when it comes to obesity prevention in their community. Learn more with this recent article.
Our new DVD, Secrets: Landing and Keeping a Job was filmed in a sitcom format, like “The Office.” It uses humor to teach important job transferable skills including communication skills, problem-solving skills, and teamwork. Hear what a junior at Menomonie High School in Menomonie, WI had to say:
“It was a fun way to learn about transferable skills. I liked the format. I almost forgot I was watching an educational video.”
Watch a clip of the DVD here:
Hot off the press! Our Character: Self Esteem Basics DVD receives great reviews from School Library Journal:
“The importance of good self-esteem and ways you can improve your confidence are presented in this brief character education program. The lesson begins with upbeat music and McKenna, a teenager, introducing the basics of self-esteem. Clear examples and on-screen notes emphasize key terms and concepts…” (more…)
This month on Learning ZoneXpress Radio, learn about ADHD in young children. Join hosts Rae Pica and Dr. Adesman and Dr. Peter Breggin as they discuss ADHD: Medical Problem, Discipline Problem or Teaching Problem?
Thank you to Kansas Coordinated School Health for recommending the Fruit and Veggie Fun Book and Seedie Kit in your January 2010 e-newsletter. Here’s what they had to say:
“The Learning ZoneXpress website has all kinds of neat nutrition resources. One of the items we are ordering is the Fruit and Vegetable Fun Book and Seedie Kit. The kit includes fruit and vegetable shaped bean bags, a book of activities, instructions, and fruit and vegetable trivia.”
Need a good resource on fast food? Our Fast Food Nutrition DVD scored great with reviewers. Check out what School Library Journal had to say:
“Two smiling, upbeat teens offer facts about good nutrition and tips for eating healthy in our fast food world. The typical tribulations of fast food meals, such as calories, saturated fats, trans fats, sodium, and sugar, are explained. The pair suggest…”
We just dropped our new 2010 Teaching Tools Catalog (formerly the FACS catalog). This catalog is packed with about 70 BRAND NEW products as well as other educational tools on the topics of:
If you didn’t receive your catalog in the mail, click here and request one.
Students are susceptible to poor hydration or dehydration whether they are participating in gym class or a competitive tennis match. Regardless of the type of activity, it is important for athletes of any kind to stay hydrated throughout the day to stay healthy and maximize performance.
Proper hydration should always start before an activity. Regularly drinking water or other non-caffeinated beverages is a requirement for proper hydration every day, not just game day. During exercise, students should drink 6-8 ounces every 15 minutes depending on personal tolerance (one gulp equals about one ounce). After exercise, they should drink 16-20 ounces for every pound of body weight lost.
Stay hydrated before, during and after exercise by following these tips:
• Drink early and often
• Practice drinking during training to make it a habit during a competition
• Drink by schedule, not by thirst
• Drink to rehydrate after an activity, then drink more
• Know the warning signs of dehydration (fatigue, lightheadedness, headache, dark urine, dry mouth)
• Choose the right drink. For light to moderate activities, drink water. For strenuous exercise over 90 minutes in duration, choose a sports drink.
Staying properly hydrated has many benefits. Not only will students perform better, but they will enjoy a number of other benefits including lower heart rate, higher cardiac output, lower core temperature, and lower perceived exertion.
Information above is based on the Hydrate Poster and Competitive Edge PowerPoint by Learning ZoneXpress.
Americans are overweight. Research shows than more than sixty percent of Americans weigh more than they should. The U.S. Surgeon General has even called obesity a national epidemic. Fueled by a number of factors, one of obesity’s main contributors is portion size.
It’s not hard to see that portion sizes are growing in this country. “Extra large,” “supersize,” and “value meals” are prominently marked on menus aimed to save you and your family money, but not inches on your waistlines. In restaurants and at home, servings are often double or triple the recommended amount of food. This is largely due to the fact that most Americans overestimate portion sizes.
Eating the right portions size is the key to helping you and your family maintain a healthy weight. The following are tips to help you in your homes or on the go:
• Read food labels. Knowing how many servings are in a particular food is an important step in making healthy nutrition choices.
• Know common portion sizes. Some foods like fresh fruits and vegetables don’t come with food labels. In that case, comparing a serving to a common object can help you visualize the right amount of food to eat. Some common serving comparisons include:
o Deck of cards = one serving of meat
o Light bulb = one serving of raw vegetables
o Tennis ball = one serving of fresh fruit
o Small can of tuna = one serving of a bagel or roll
o 2 AA Batteries = one serving of cheese
• Find out how many servings you and your children need. Visit the USDA’s MyPyramid Plan http://www.mypyramid.gov/mypyramid/index.aspx to see how many calories and servings of each food group you need daily. Your number of servings will depend on age, height, weight, and activity level.
• Purchase pre-packaged one serving snacks. Buy small bags of your favorite snacks and then eat just one.
• Split a meal at a restaurant. Share your meal with a friend or box up half for another time.
• Use smaller plates and serving utensils during meals. Studies show that people will eat smaller portions when the serving spoons and plates are smaller.
• Eat more fruits and vegetables. Eating more fruits and vegetables means you’ll probably have less room for foods higher in fat and calories.
• Don’t deprive yourself. Eat the foods you enjoy, just watch your serving size.
The above information is based on the Avoid Portion Distortion PowerPoint and other Learning ZoneXpress products.
Business owner and former FACS teacher, Melanie has been creating life skills products for 27 years. Visit Melanie’s Corner often to get the insider news on Learning ZoneXpress, life skills tips and the occasional bargain.
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