What do moose, muffins, vegetable alphabets, cows, Zak�s Lunch, and Pancakes! Pancakes! all have in common? These are all topics or titles of books used in the Food, Fun, and Reading lessons given to the Cando After School Program students in November and December.

The series is based on the Food Guide Pyramid, and each lesson focuses on one of the main food groups. The curriculum includes reading the day�s story, a pyramid activity, hands-on snack preparation, and compiling a "My Book of Good Foods" coloring book for each student. Parent letters covering the main points of the lesson are sent home each day, and each includes at-home recipe ideas.

The program began with the book "If You Give a Moose a Muffin" by Laura Joffe Numeroff, and following the story, students learned about the Grain Group. This group is the base or bottom of the food pyramid, and we need the greatest number of servings per day from this group. The students made Trail Mix and Orange Zip drink.

Lesson Two covered the fruit and vegetable group, and the story was "Eating the Alphabet: Fruits and Vegetables from A to Z" by Lois Ehlert. Students learned that fruits and juices are important sources of many vitamins and minerals. Banana Crunchos, Ants on a Log, and Summer Smoothie were the snack items prepared by the students.

Lesson Three concentrated on the milk group, and the story read was "COW", by Jules Older. Students learned that milk, cheese, yogurt, and ice cream are all part of the milk group, and this group provides us the best source of calcium. Recipes prepared were Shaker Pudding and Banana Breakfast Shake.

The Meat Group was discussed in Lesson Four. The story read was "Zak�s Lunch" by Marge Palatini, and students learned that this group is important for protein, which helps build strong bodies. Besides meat, foods in this group also include eggs, tuna, peanuts and soybeans. The students made Peanut Butter Chews and Purple Cow Shakes.

The last lesson focused on breakfast, and the story read was "Pancakes! Pancakes!" by Eric Carle. Students learned that a good breakfast gives us the energy to move and think, and any food�even pizza can be eaten for breakfast. Students prepared Sensational Rice Cake Faces and Banana-Orange Junior Shakes.

All children and adults need to learn to eat nutritiously and pay attention to their serving sizes. Learning these concepts at an early age and doing hands-on snack preparation will help children develop good eating habits that will hopefully last a lifetime.

Participants in the Food, Fun, and Reading Program included Kaylie B, Samantha C, Katy E, Kaitlin H, Cecile H, Kristin M, Megan T, Melissa T, Alex W, Kayla W, Logan B, Andrea B and Megan G.

Lessons were all planned and conducted by Gayle Gette, Extension/FNP agent, in cooperation with Mary Jo P, Cando After School Program Coordinator.

  Newsworthy Notes