Dedham Public Schools is dedicated to promoting lifelong, sound nutrition practices to their students. In striving to provide students with the nutrition knowledge to make healthier decisions in their diets, Dedham Public Schools has created a community dedicated to improving the well-being of their students. In efforts to enforce the Dedham Public School Wellness Policy and the 学校营养计划, the district has partnered with Framingham State University’s Coordinated Program in Dietetics to provide nutrition education to their students.

Dedham Public Schools welcomed student dietitian Sarah Veber to Avery Elementary School. Sarah Veber worked with elementary school students to discuss “sometimes foods”, or foods that should only be eaten sometimes, and “switcheroos”, or healthy food options that can be switched instead of a “sometimes food”. For students, learning about what foods can be eaten daily to help grow strong and healthy versus what foods should only be eaten sometimes and in moderation is essential for promoting a lifelong healthy diet.

During the presentation, students actively participated by organizing food models into the correct food group, discussing what kinds of foods should only be eaten sometimes and why, and completing a worksheet on “sometimes” foods and “switcheroos”. After the lesson, students were able to understand that sugary foods and foods high in solid fat should not be eaten every day, but may be eaten in moderation. Sarah has helped to implement the Dedham Public School’s Wellness Policy by educating the district’s students on age-appropriate nutrition topics. Resources used for these lesson plans along with many other resources are available to students and educators at The John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition resource center.

Submitted by: Sarah Veber, FSU Food and Nutrition Student in the 营养学协调程序.