Evidence Based Strategies

Teachers and youth leaders find Healthy Kids Challenge ideas simple to teach nutrition and increase physical activity! "Lessons" based on science-based information and best practices can be adapted for teaching within core-curriculum, health curriculum, afterschool activities or youth programs.

HKC tailors assistance and resources to meet needs

HKC has heard teachers and youth leaders say there isn’t time to add one more curriculum to the day. So with the help and feedback from teachers, HKC developed “idea” toolkits with suggested activities to integrate building skills for healthy eating and physical activity into core curriculum. HKC ideas are based on:

• National standards of practice and current professional theories
  (Including CDC, Institute of Medicine, Dietary Guidelines for Americans, and MyPyramid)
• Studies connecting academic performance to eating and physical activity
• Measurable objectives that address one or more of the following: knowledge, attitudes skills, behaviors, policy, and environment
• Effective behavior education strategies

A majority, if not all the activities, help meet education standards for knowledge and application of MyPyramid guidelines. Teachers report the ideas provide great new strategies for teaching core curriculum.

Effective behavior education

Teachers and youth leaders find HKC activities, focusing on six healthy behaviors easy to use. The six behaviors are a combination of those recommended by Centers for Disease Control (fruit and vegetable intake, physical activity and less screen time) and behaviors identified for academic achievement and wellness (breakfast and balanced intake through healthy snacks, beverage choices and serving sizes).

Activity ideas also provide suggestions for guided goal setting*, a strategy recognized by nutrition education research for behavior change, and specified in Standard 6 of the National Health Education Standards.

In addition, HKC uses a HEAR – SEE – DO –approach. Kids HEAR a healthy message; SEE how to make healthy choices; and DO – have hands-on practice of healthy habits.

HKC’s strength

HKC is able to assist with simple “every day” ideas to put the most current recommendations and guidelines into action.

Quote: “HKC shared awesome techniques at trainings that made it easy to incorporate the resources into all activities to make it fun and simple to present powerful messages to children.” Michelle Lock-Gooch, RD, LD

*Goal Setting References
(Health Education & Behavior, 2004; Vol. 31, No. 2, 258-269.) Cullen KW et al,
Goal Setting is Differentially Related to Change in Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Consumption Among Fourth-Grade Children

(J Am Diet Assoc. 2001 May; 101(5):562-6.) Cullen KW, et al, Using goal setting as a strategy for dietary behavior change

(J Nutr Educ Behav. 2004;36:155-156.) Shilts et al, An Innovative Approach to Goal Setting for Adolescents: Guided Goal Setting