Nutrition Education for Local High School Students

Published: 2022
By Carrie Krug

Carrie Krug, MSU Extension Richland County Family and Consumer Sciences (FCS) Agent, offered Sidney High School culinary students a program about the changes to our American Dietary Guidelines and portion control. Students also got to participate in a hands-on activity directly involving portion sizes. They were presented with four different food items, and on one plate, they placed what they would typically eat, and on the second plate, they placed the actual serving size of that food item. Then they discussed calories, fats, reading food labels, and healthy food alternatives. A total of 28 culinary students from three classes participated in this program. When asked what they would do differently now, one student stated, “I will double check the serving sizes so I can make sure I don’t eat too much.” Around 85% of the students who participated in the program indicated they “Definitely” or “Probably” learned something they didn’t know. Overall, this program appeared to be a fun learning activity for our local high school culinary students.