Nutrition Curriculum

Title: Kids to the Farmers Market

Grade Level: 6th-8th

Overview: Students will rotate in groups of ~10 through the nutrition and food demo portion of the trip. Students will be educated on farmer’s markets, fruits and vegetables, and seasonality. Estimated time for lesson is ~15 minutes.

Materials and Resources:

Samples of local produce available at the market (ex: greens, strawberries, asparagus)

Handouts: “10 tips for fruits”, “10 tips for vegetables”, “Eating the rainbow”, Cookbook, “The sensational Strawberry”, Harvest calendar

Parfait Ingredients (to be brought by chef)

Learning Goals:

1) Students will learn the benefits of farmer’s markets.

2) Students will consume local, seasonal produce.

Objectives:

1) Students will be able to define farmer’s market and seasonality.

2) Students will be able to list at least 2 health benefits of produce.

2) Students will taste a recipe made with seasonal produce.

3) Students will purchase local produce to take home.

Lesson:

Part 1: Farmers Market (~3 minutes)

What is a farmer’s market?

- A farmers market is a place where farmers sell their produce directly to consumers

Why go to a farmer’s market?

- Produce is fresh, straight from the farm, and you are supporting your local farmers and local economy

What does it mean to eat local?

- Eating food that is grown, raised or produced locally, usually within 100 miles of your home

What does it mean to eat organic? Is organic healthier?

- Organic food is grown without the use of pesticides, synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, genetically modified organisms, or ionizing radiation.

- It uses renewable resources and conserves soil and water to promote environmental quality

- There is no definitive research to prove one way or the other that organic food is healthier.

- Food has the most nutrients when it is first picked, which is why we recommend produce fresh from the farm and also fresh-frozen fruits and vegetables

Part 2: Fruits and Vegetables (~5 minutes)

What are the nutritional benefits of fruits and vegetables?

- They provide our body with vitamins, minerals and fiber.

- Our body needs vitamins and minerals to support our immune system, to help our bodies grow and develop and for our organs and cells to do their jobs.

- Fiber helps keep you feel full, prevents diabetes and heart disease and promotes healthy bowel function

- The different colors of your fruits and vegetables represent different nutrients. In order to get a variety of nutrients, we should aim to “eat the rainbow”.

How much should I be getting?

- A serving of fruit is about half a cup or a small whole fruit.

- A serving of vegetables is also half a cup, or 1 cup of leafy greens

- At every meal, aim to make half your plate fruits and vegetables

**Mention handouts

Part 3: Seasonality of Produce (2 minutes)

What is seasonal produce?

- When fruits or vegetables are harvested at their peak, they are “in season”.

- Local produce is always in season

What are the benefits?

- Fruits or vegetables are freshest and cheapest when they are in season. Seasonal produce also has better flavor.

How do I know if something is in season?

***Use the Maryland harvest calendar to know what’s in season.

Seasonal Produce Recipe Highlight (Spring 2012) (5 minutes)

- “Strawbrosia Parfaits”

- Chef Demo and discussion; handout of parfaits.

- Strawberries are currently in season, and the season in Maryland runs from

mid-May to the end of June.

***Refer to handout for health benefits of strawberries