Brockton Public Schools is dedicated to creating school environments that support and safeguard the health, well-being, and ability of students to maintain healthy eating habits. The district Política de bienestar is enforced to provide comprehensive health education, which aligns with the National Health Standards and the Massachusetts School Health curriculum frameworks, allowing students the opportunity to understand and practice concepts and skills related to health promotion and disease prevention. Evidence-based nutrition education is provided by qualified school nutrition professionals that work for the UMASS Extension Nutrition Education Program. UMASS Extension features graduate students from Framingham State University to participate in educating students on how to improve the nutritional quality of their diet. 

On Monday, April 3^rd, 2023, UMASS Extension intern Krystal Karalli taught first grade students at Brookfield Elementary School about the importance of incorporating fruits and vegetables into their daily eating routine. The students first participated in discussing their favorite fruits and vegetables then played the “Mystery Bag” game which involved identifying what kind of fruit or vegetable was being described with four hints provided by Krystal. The students then categorized the food identified into the fruit or vegetable group. 

What’s more, the students learned that each color provided its own health benefit. Red fruits and vegetables were associated with a strong heart, orange and yellow fruits and vegetables were associated with day and night vision, green fruits and vegetables were associated with strong bones and teeth, and purple and blue vegetables and fruit were associated with a healthy brain. Students were able to identify where fruits and vegetables come from and learned food safety principles related to their preparation. After students participated in “The Talking Tomato Says”, they “taught back” the lesson learned by describing the specific health benefits each color provides. 

For more nutrition and wellness lesson plan content, please visit the SWITCH resource center.

By: Krystal Karalli, FSU Food and Nutrition Graduate Student in the Programa Coordinado en Dietética.