Braintree Public Schools is dedicated to providing school environments that promote and protect children’s health, well-being, and ability to learn by supporting healthy eating and physical activity as described on their 学校营养计划 website. Their mission is to provide students with access to a variety of affordable, nutritious, and appealing foods that meet the health and nutrition needs of all students. It is emphasized in the district’s 健康政策 that all schools ensure students will acquire the knowledge, skills, and motivation necessary to achieve and maintain optimum health and lifelong fitness. On November 14th, 2022, Braintree Public Schools partnered with Framingham State University’s 营养学协调程序 and invited student dietitian, Jodi LaChance, to teach 2nd grade students about the importance of Eating The Rainbow. 

During this lesson, the students learned about the benefits of eating fruits and vegetables for strong bones, a healthy heart, a smart mind and so much more. Students were taught that fruits and vegetables have nutrients like vitamins and minerals through a fun activity. The activity consisted of building a healthy person who the students affectionately named “Mr. Leahy”, their gym teacher. At the end, the students were able to identify that eating a rainbow, consisting of a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables, helps keep us healthy so that we can grow, learn, and play.

To explore more resources that can be implemented into school lesson plans, please visit the John C. Stalker Institute of Food and Nutrition 资源中心.

By: Jodi LaChance, FSU Food and Nutrition Graduate student in the 营养学协调程序.