Table 1 La Vida Buena curriculum session objectives
Session Name | Objectives | Example activities, incentives and food demonstrations |
|---|---|---|
Session 1: Orientation | • Identify the program goals: Increase fruit and vegetable consumption; Increase non-school physical activity; Reduce sugary drink intake and other refined carbohydrates • Identify two health issues related to being overweight • Recognize La Vida Buena as an informative and fun program | • Physical activity through play • Incentive: jump ropes • Food demo: fruit salad |
Session 2: Gotta Love those Fruits and Veggies | • Name GO FOODS - to eat almost anytime (Fruits and veggies) • Identify SLOW FOODS - to eat less often (Grains, dairy, protein) • Name WHOA FOODS - to eat once in a while (High caloric, high fat foods) • Express one strategy to eat in a more healthy manner | • Go/Slow/Whoa traffic light game • Incentive: fruit/veggie stuffed animals and measuring cups • Food demo: DIY salad bar |
Session 3: Guess what’s in the bowl | • Understand what a serving size is • Understand MyPlate | • Guess how much is in the cereal bowl • Incentive: MyPlate plate, smoothie cup • Food demo: cauliflower rice |
Session 4: Breakfast for your Brain | • Identify breakfast as the most important meal of the day • Identify a healthy cereal by label reading based on fiber and sugar contents • Write one healthy breakfast menu as a family | • Label detective with magnifying glasses • Incentive: balls and Tupperware set • Food demo: apple “cookies” |
Session 5: Physical Activity with 0S3 biking group | • Identify the benefits of bicycling • Identify opportunities to use their bikes • Name two safety rules when bicycling | • Biking activity circuit • Incentives: bike helmets • Food demo: Fruit kebab stick |
Session 6: Water Your Way | • Read beverage nutrition facts labels • Name one benefit of drinking water and skim milk • Learn how much sugar is in popular drinks | • How much sugar do you pour into your bodies? • Incentives: water bottles • Food demo: infused water |
Session 7: Shopping Like Pros | • Learn to navigate the supermarket • Identify strategies to be prepared for grocery shopping • Read nutrition facts label | • Choose a meal from the La Vida Buena ‘supermarket’ • Incentives: shopping list and chef hat • Food demo: avocado toast |
Session 8: My Mexican Food is Healthy | • Identify one strategy to cook healthier • Modify one recipe by adding, reducing, substituting, or eliminating to create a healthier recipe • Express one benefit of eating together | • Make abuelita’s recipe healthier • Incentives: crock pot • Food demo: yogurt parfait |