NUTRITION FOR CHILDREN & TEENS

The Food Bank's Nutrition Services team offers the following education programs for children:

Cooking Matters for Children

Cooking Matters for Kids engages kids ages 8 to 12 years old in learning about healthy eating and provides simple nutritious recipes that children can prepare themselves. Each week participants learn about how to select healthy foods, complete tasting activities, play games, cook and eat together. Each week participants are encouraged to complete a Challenge Activity at home to engage the whole family in trying new foods and forming new, healthy habits.

Available in English only.

Start Smart Eating & Reading

This 5-session program for first and second graders wasdesigned to help children discover the importance of breakfast through reading and discussion of various children's literature books. Each session offers a no-cook food activity and other activities to reinforce the message about smart eating. “Breakfast Bites,” a parent newsletter, takes the message from the classroom into the home.

The curriculum was prepared jointly by the 4-H Youth Development and Family and Community Development programs of the Oregon State University Extension Service and by the Oregon Department of Education.  

Available in English only.

Media Smart Youth

“Media-Smart Youth: Eat, Think, and Be Active!” is an interactive health promotion program designed to help teach youth, ages 11-13 about the complex media world around them and how it can affect their health--especially in the areas of nutrition and physical activity. It helps young people become critical, creative thinkers. The “Media-Smart Youth” program helps young people analyze, evaluate and create media messages--skills that can help them make smart and positive choices about nutrition and physical activity every day. This 10-part series can also be condensed and taught as a workshop.

Available in English only.

Cooking Matters for Teens

Like the other Cooking Matters curricula, Cooking Matters for Teens teaches 13-18 year olds how to make healthy meals and snacks for themselves, their family and friends over a 6-week course. Each week is filled with discussion, activities, and cooking. Teens are provided with groceries each week to make the recipes again at home.

Available in English only.