Programs

The Family Nutrition Program provides everything you need
to bring this practice-based program to students at school
or youth at your organization. Students who complete this
program report making healthier food choices. Research
shows that good nutrition affects students’ thinking,
behavior, and health, not to mention improved test scores.
Our trained staff can teach Teen Cuisine to your students at
no cost, either in-person or remotely (synchronously). With
the Teen Cuisine curriculum, a local Program Assistant from
the Family Nutrition Program can:
• Deliver engaging healthy living programs with proven
results
• Support learning and healthy behaviors with fun and free
incentives for students to take home
• Provide resources for program implementation including
food preparation experiences to practice healthy eating
• Support your school’s wellness initiatives

Teen Cuisine is a 4-H cooking-based program that teaches teens from
6th to 12th grade about healthy living. Developed by Virginia Tech and
Virginia Cooperative Extension, each lesson focuses on cooking skills
while teaching teens nutrition, food safety, and physical activity. Teen
Cuisine contains six 90-minute lessons that can be modified for shorter
sessions. The curriculum includes many optional activities to extend
learning in and outside of class and can be customized for audiences
of different ages and abilities. All lessons build on one another and
give the student time to practice new skills as well as develop new understanding and habits
regarding personal nutrition and health. Each participant receives a workbook that is filled with vibrant pages
that reinforce important skills and also includes many healthy recipes for students to use at home with their
families. (Spanish workbooks are available.)

Lessons topics Include:

Eat Smart
• Understand the components of a healthy plate
• Practice proper hand washing, recipe reading,
measuring, and the proper way to slice fresh fruit
• Identify activities that promote health
You Are What You Eat
• Learn how to read and use the Nutrition Facts Labels
• Recognize proper portion sizes
• Practice how to cut, chop, and dice fruits and
vegetables by using healthy recipes
• Determine how much physical activity teens need
Power Up with Breakfast
• Understand why breakfast is the most important
meal of the day
• Use MyPlate to plan a healthy breakfast
• Prevent food-borne illnesses with safe food handling
• Prepare a healthy breakfast with eggs or whole grains
• Differentiate between types of beneficial exercises
Find the Fat
• Classify sources of fat in the diet using the “Go, Slow,
Whoa” method
• Identify temperatures for cooking meat properly
• Handle raw meats safely
• Prepare low-fat recipes of foods popular with teens
• Discuss why teens should limit screen time
Watch Out for Added Sugars
• Discover how many added sugars are in processed
foods and drinks and choose healthier options
• Identify the temperature range of the Danger Zone
• Prepare sweet treats without added sugars
• Set goals for improving physical activity
Snack Attack
• Recognize unhealthy snacks that are high in added
sugars, saturated fat, and sodium
• Make a healthy snack
• Set physical activity goals to last a lifetime


Virginia Cooperative Extension
http://www.ext.vt.edu/
http://www.eatsmartmovemoreva.org/

For More Information Contact

Anita Eggleton
Nutrition Education Facilitator
(703) 629 7491
anitae@vt.edu