High School Grade
  • Project
  • 4 weeks

Fuel Your Future: Craft a Nutritious Meal!

Santina Jannotti

Purpose

Students will explore the impact of their nutritional choices on health and wellness by engaging in hands-on research and meal design. They will apply basic nutrition concepts, dietary guidelines, and health impacts to create a nutritious, balanced dish proposal for the school cafeteria. This project encourages critical thinking about food choices, promotes understanding of nutritional standards, and considers cultural and budgetary factors in meal planning. Through reflection and critique, students will deepen their understanding of responsible food choices and practical strategies for selecting nutritious foods.

Learning goals

Students will explore the fundamental principles of nutrition, including the roles of macronutrients and micronutrients, and understand how these contribute to overall health and well-being. They will analyze dietary guidelines, evaluate food labels, and apply meal planning principles to design a nutritious meal for the school cafeteria. Through hands-on activities, students will assess the health impacts of different nutritional choices and learn to identify and select healthier food options. They will also reflect on the importance of personal responsibility in making informed food choices and practice creating balanced meals that consider cultural, environmental, and budgetary factors.
Standards
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.W.7: Conduct short as well as more sustained research projects based on focused questions, demonstrating understanding of the subject under investigation.
  • Common Core - CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.CCRA.SL.4: Present information, findings, and supporting evidence such that listeners can follow the line of reasoning and the organization, development, and style are appropriate to task, purpose, and audience.
  • NGSS - HS-LS1-6: Construct and revise an explanation based on evidence for how carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen from sugar molecules may combine with other elements to form amino acids and/or other large carbon-based molecules.

Products

Students will collaborate to design a nutritious and appealing cafeteria meal, incorporating knowledge of macronutrients, micronutrients, and dietary guidelines. They will analyze food labels and nutritional information to ensure their meal meets recommended standards for adolescents. Each group will present their meal concept, explaining how it supports health and wellness, and how it considers cultural and budgetary factors. Finally, students will provide a written reflection on the importance of making informed food choices and strategies for selecting nutritious foods in their daily lives.

Launch

Begin with a hands-on activity where students analyze and compare the nutritional content of popular cafeteria meals using food labels and MyPlate guidelines. Facilitate a discussion on how these meals align with dietary recommendations and their potential health impacts. Encourage students to brainstorm creative ways to enhance the nutritional value of these meals while considering cultural and budgetary factors. This will set the stage for designing their own healthy signature dish for the cafeteria.

Exhibition

Students will present their signature dish recommendations to a panel of cafeteria staff, nutritionists, and peers, showcasing their understanding of nutritional concepts. Each group will prepare a visual presentation, highlighting the nutritional benefits and meal planning principles behind their dish. They will also provide a sample of their dish for tasting, allowing the panel to experience the flavors and assess the practicality of incorporating it into the school menu.