Lesson about healthy eating

Youngsters learn about nutrition

By: Bill Greenwood
   MONROE — On Wednesday, Barclay Brook School treated its second-graders, parents and teachers to a meal of Cheerios, turkey sausage, peaches, orange juice and milk. Twenty-seven tables were spread out across the school’s auditorium in three rows, with another in the back with coffee for adults.
   However, this event was meant to nourish more than just the stomach. It was the culmination of the school’s nutrition program, a six-week course that teaches students the importance of a healthy diet, according to Joan Zozulin, a second-grade teacher at the school who planned the event with the other second-grade teachers.
   "At this point, this is when the children are getting their habits down, and eating is a habit," she said. "What you eat is a habit, and this is the time that we’re trying to instill good habits for their health."
   Over the past six weeks, second-grade teachers taught a number of nutritional lessons as part of the school’s curriculum, according to Principal Carol Schwalje. Some of the topics include the new food pyramid and how to eat healthy.
   "It’s amazing what they know," Ms. Zozulin said of the students. "If you ask them, ‘Why do you drink milk,’ they know it’s calcium. Even though you don’t really have food groups any more, they know peanut butter and meat and chicken are in the meat group. They’ll know why they should eat their fruits and vegetables, and we hope that as they get older, they make the right choices."
   Ms. Schwalje said the students had been looking forward to the breakfast for quite some time.
   "They’re excited about this whole day," she said. "They know this is coming, so they’re excited about learning about nutrition. I think that’s all part of the whole thing."
   The breakfast began with a musical performance by the second-graders, who had learned "The Breakfast Song" from "Reading Rainbow" in their music classes, according to Lauren Vas, who teaches music to the first- and second-graders.
   "They did a great job," she said. "The students are always enthusiastic, and you always get a few, ‘I’m nervous,’ even at this stage, but they always rise to the occasion."
   Ms. Vas said she was glad to incorporate music into the students’ nutrition lessons.
   "The kids love learning about music in general, and it’s always nice when there’s a chance to integrate the curriculum with the other teachers and be able to be a part of that in music as well," she said.
   Once the number was over, the students paraded down from the stage and joined the adults at the tables. A large divider was pulled in front of the stage, shielding it from view, and the healthy feast began in earnest.
   As those in attendance picked at and passed around the food, many took the time to admire the handiwork of the students who set the tables Tuesday afternoon with colored place mats decorated with drawings of properly placed plates, forks, knives and spoons, and decorated food pyramids for their guests, according to Ms. Zozulin.
   Ms. Vas said it was important that parents attend the event as well.
   "It’s a part of them being able to see what their children are learning about in school," she said. "It’s an opportunity for them to share a bond with their kids in what they’re learning in their curriculum."
   The parents seemed to appreciate the school’s invitation, relishing the time with their children, joking around and applauding the work of the second-grade teachers who planned the event.
   After the attendees had completed their meal, a projector was set up in the middle of the auditorium for a PowerPoint slide show of pictures taken during some of the other nutrition program events, such as Healthy Snack Day. All eyes were on the screen as it rotated images of happy, smiling children, and slight applause could be heard every time a new class’s picture section began.
   As the event came to an end, and with it the nutrition curriculum for this year, Ms. Schwalje said the event was a success and both parents and students were much better off for the experience.
   "They learned all these things," she said. "They’re sharing it with their parents. The parents are coming into the school feeling part of the educational process. I think it’s a nice day for both parent and child."