Lesson

What's Your Snack?

Kids learn how to make nutritious snack choices by comparing the sugar content of snack foods.

Objectives

  • Identify snacks low in added sugars. 

Info to Know

Students should have the general understanding that the more nutrients in a food or a beverage, the better it is for your body and brain. The lessons in this unit present a fun and interactive way to learn about sugar content in snacks and drinks. Kids will increase their decision-making skills as they learn how to read a food label to tell if an item contains excessive amounts of sugar. They will plan and advocate for nutritious snack and drink choices that are low in added sugar.

Set The Stage

Ask kids to look at their drink tally sheets from Lesson 3. Ask them if they made better choices because they know more about the nutritional value of milk and water.

Let kids know that they will take a closer look at the added sugar in snacks so they are better able to make healthy decisions.

To use this with your students click here.

Captivate

Snack Attack

Help kids brainstorm foods in their grocery stores that do not have a label. Then let them know that foods without labels are likely to have no added sugar! 

Educate

Snack Choices

Watch the slideshow to learn about the difference between a "snack" and a "treat." A snack is a small portion of nutritious food eaten between meals. Snacks have no or very little added sugar. A treat has less nutrition and more added sugar than snacks. Treats are okay sometimes.

Teacher tip: No label on the food? It is probably a fresh fruit or vegetable, which do not require nutrition labels. These are great snacks!

Check for understanding: What snack choices are best for your body and brain? 

Activate

How many kinds of nutritious foods can your learners find on the Healthy Foods Coloring Pages?

Close the Lesson

Today we learned that nutritious snack choices have little or no added sugar.

Now that you know more about nutritious snack choices, what will you choose for your next snack? 

Grade: 3-5

Time: 20 Minutes

What You'll Need

Health Education Standards

  • Standard 1: Core Concepts-Limit foods and beverages high in added sugar.
  • Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication
  • Standard 5: Decision-Making
  • Standard 7: Practice Health-Enhancing Behaviors
  • Standard 8: Advocacy

 

Social and Emotional Learning Competencies

  • Self-Management
  • Responsible Decision-Making

Extend the Lesson

View the fit Units and Lessons Scope and Sequence Chart.

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