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Your students will be empowered to make better food choices if they have access to good information. Talk to your students about what their bodies need and how eating right can help them feel better. In addition to offering lessons on nutrition, consider working nutritional information into your discussion of other subjects. For example, if you're teaching a chemistry lesson on iron, you might talk briefly about the role of dietary iron in the human body. Help your students connect with educational resources outside the classroom. For example, you might tell them about how choosemyplate.gov can help them choose what to eat at each meal. When you send your kids home with assignments related to nutrition and good food choices, this can encourage them to bring what they are learning with them outside of the classroom. Create assignments that the students can complete with their families so that other members of their household can get involved, too. For example, you might have your students work with their families to design a healthy meal that contains all the major food groups. In addition to providing your own lessons on nutrition, work with school health staff to make sure everyone is on the same page and delivering the same messages. You might invite the school nurse or a nutritionist (if your school has one) to speak to the class about healthy eating. If your school doesn't have any health services staff who can talk to your class about nutrition, consider inviting a health or nutrition specialist from outside the school to speak as a guest in your classroom. Peer pressure can have a major impact on kids' self-image and eating habits. If you witness or hear about children bullying each other about their bodies or eating habits, talk to the students involved and take appropriate actions to put a stop to the behavior. Different schools have different guidelines for handling bullying in the classroom. Alert the administration at your school and discuss the best way to deal with the situation. Students react well to positive reinforcement for good behavior or scholastic achievements. However, rewarding students with food or treats can encourage the development of unhealthy behaviors. If you'd like to reward your students, look for non-food alternatives, such as stickers, books, or extra playtime. Conversely, you should never deprive your students of food as a punishment. To the best of your ability, make sure your students always have access to the nutrition they need throughout the school day. You can reinforce the lessons you teach your students by being a good role model. Eat lunch in the cafeteria with your students, and select healthy food and snack options. If your students see you taking advantage of the nutritious meal options your school provides, they may be inspired to try it themselves. Avoid eating unhealthy snacks in front of your students, especially if those options are off-limits to them.
Incorporate lessons on good nutrition into your curriculum. Assign homework focused on healthy eating choices. Collaborate with the school nurse on nutrition lessons. Intervene if you see bullying related to weight or body shape. Avoid using or withholding food to reward or punish students. Model healthy behaviors for your students.