Five a Day Program for Schools
The Five a Day for Schools integrates nutrition education information through a standardized, interactive curriculum for third grade students and their teachers in selected low-income schools. The goal of the program is to increase awareness of the health benefits of eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables each day for better health. The program is currently being taught in 12 counties statewide. In Maricopa County during the 1999-2000 school year, the program was taught in the Phoenix Elementary School District and reached 825 students. The data demonstrated a 60% increase in the students’ knowledge of 5 or more as the number of servings of vegetables and fruits needed each day and a 41% increase in correct identification of foods containing vitamins A and C. In addition, there was a 54% increase in identification of serving size for vegetables and fruits. In the 2000-2001 school year the program expanded to Roosevelt School District and will be provided for 1100 students. At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to recognize how early nutrition intervention in children may impact health and disease prevention and will learn how the Arizona Comprehensive Health Education Standards are being incorporated into the Five a Day nutrition curriculum.
Learning Objectives: The participant in this session will be able to recognize how early nutrition intervention in children may impact health and disease prevention. The participant will learn how the Arizona Comprehensive Health Education Standards are being incorporated into the Five a Day nutrition curriculum.
Keywords: Children, Food and Nutrition
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