Kids in Nutrition is a non-profit organization that aims to educate elementary school students about nutrition and healthy lifestyles through a 7-week program taught by college student volunteers. The program is run in Santa Barbara and Goleta schools and teaches topics like hydration, fruits and vegetables, proteins and grains, fats and oils, sugars and sodium, moderation and nutrition labels. Each lesson incorporates hands-on activities and discussion to actively engage the students. The goal is to help combat preventable health issues by teaching children healthy eating habits at a young age.

1.
Kids In Nutrition
Expansion Presentation
Fall 2015
Kids In Nutrition: A Health Education Program For Elementary School Students
Santa Barbara Unified School District and Goleta Union School District
www.kidsinnutrition.com

2. What is KIN?
Kids in Nutrition is a non­profit volunteer organization that a​ims to connect
college and elementary school students in an effort to inspire and educate the
younger generation to lead active and
healthy lives. KIN was founded two years
ago with 3 students and has since grown to
over 100 student volunteers.
Program Description
Student volunteers from UCSB facilitate
learning through a student run health
education program for first graders in the
Santa Barbara Unified school district and
Goleta Union school district. KIN’s
educational approach is to establish a personal student­to­student small group
dynamic in every classroom. The curriculum consists of a unique seven­week
interactive lesson plan, covering a variety of topics from the importance of
water to the value of moderation. Each week, instructors introduce a new topic
incorporating information learned in previous classes. Every lesson lines up
with the California State Board of Education’s Content Standards to supplement
current classroom activities.
Our Mission
Cardiovascular disease, obesity, diabetes and other health related conditions
have become increasingly prevalent in America today. The United States
spends a tremendous amount of money annually on combating these
preventable diseases. The future generation of
Americans can improve their health by
developing smart eating habits at a young age.
Research done by the American Diabetes
Association provides evidence that, “promoting
and establishing healthy behaviors for younger
people are more effective, and often easier,
than efforts to change unhealthy behaviors
already established in adult populations.” A
www.kidsinnutrition.com

3. program that teaches kids ​how ​to make better food choices and ​why​ they are
making those choices can help combat this nationwide problem. Learning the
“​why”​ is essential for kids to be aware of the issues associated with harmful
food consumption and to be motivated to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
What We Teach
Each week, a new topic is
explored, actively engaging the
students with visuals, hands on
activities, group discussions,
and outdoor exercises. The
curriculum focuses on the basic
nutritional aspects of fruits,
vegetables, grains, proteins,
and water and the detrimental
effects of over consuming fats,
sugar, sodium, and oils.
The teaching method of KIN revolves around a small group dynamic. During the
first classroom visit, five students are paired with one college volunteer from
UCSB to form a KIN group. Throughout the quarter, KIN groups participate in
activities that build strong kinship between the instructor and the student. We
believe that this form of mentorship is the most effective way to develop strong
relationships between mentors and mentees while instilling a passion for health
in our students.
Program Overview
Week 1: The Importance of Water
Objective:
1. Explain the benefits of staying hydrated.
2. Explain why water is important for the body.
3. Explain the negative consequences of not drinking water.
4. Describe ways to drink water throughout the day.
www.kidsinnutrition.com

4. Week 2: Fruits and Veggies
Objective:
1. Explain why fruits and veggies are good for you.
2. Describe how to increase intake of fruits and veggies.
3. Describe the daily
recommendation of fruits and
veggies.
Week 3: Grains and Protein
Objective:
1. Explain the importance of
proteins.
2. Distinguish the difference
between whole and refined
grains.
3. Describe different sources of
protein.
Week 4: Fats and Oils
Objective:
1. Explain why fats are important for the body.
2. Distinguish between good fats/oils and bad fats/oils.
3. Describe which foods have what fats and how to make healthier choices.
Week 5: Sugars and Sodium
Objective:
1. Describe the effects of sugar on health.
2. Describe the difference between good and bad sugars.
3. Explain the importance of sodium and the consequences of high consumption.
4. Explain how to read food labels on different packaged foods and how to make
choices based on that information.
Week 6: Moderation, MyPlate, Labeling
Objective:
1. Explain what MyPlate is and why it is used as a guideline.
2. Explain what moderation means.
3. Learn how to apply moderation and MyPlate to make healthy choices.
4. Learn how to read food labels.
Week 7: Nutrition Wrap
Objective:
www.kidsinnutrition.com

5. 1. Work as a team to solve problems.
2. Answer questions from previous lessons.
Conclusion
As we teach the kids, they teach us. Each class we teach helps us grow and learn about
how to improve the program for future classrooms. A class survey is taken on the first and
last day of the program to evaluate the effectiveness of the curriculum.
Contact Information
Kevin Gooch
Development Director
kevingooch@kidsinnutrition.com
Become a Kid in Nutrition!
www.kidsinnutrition.com