Growing Up Healthy

Growing Up Healthy mural

This February the kindergarten students received a month long unit on nutrition entitled “Growing Up Healthy.”  Students in all five kinder classes studied My Plate (Michelle Obama’s new guide to nutrition) and its corresponding food groups.  Similarly, students studied the importance of breakfast, eating a variety of foods and physical exercise.  Students in Beth Landry’s classroom received a visit and a virtual field trip from a local farmer.  At the end of the unit, students created a Growing Up Healthy Mural, pictured above.  Students promised to engage in a healthy behavior for the remainder of the year.  Students vowed to jump rope more, eat more vegetables and even plant a garden.  The mural illustrated the power nutrition education can have on early elementary students and their excitement to grow up healthy.

A kindergartner's promise to play outside more.

Papaya Boats

Papaya Boats (photo courtesy of Champions for Change)

This February the 5^th grade students studied healthy desserts.  In doing so, we featured a recipe from the Champions for Change website.  At Bay View Nutrition, we frequently use Champions for Change recipes in our classes.  They are quick, fresh and healthy. The students loved the papaya boats, especially the hints of mint. Enjoy the recipe as a midday snack or to top of a lovely meal.

Ingredients:

*2 papayas, rinsed and peeled

*1 medium banana, peeled and sliced

*1 kiwifruit, peeled and sliced 1 cup sliced strawberries

*1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained

*3⁄4 cup lowfat vanilla yogurt

*1 tablespoon honey

*2 teaspoons chopped fresh mint (optional)

Preparation:

1. Cut papayas in half lengthwise. Scoop out seeds. Place each half on a medium plate.

2. Place an equal amount of banana, kiwifruit, strawberries, and oranges in each papaya half.

3. Combine yogurt, honey and mint; mix well. Spoon over fruit before serving.