LSU AgCenter Makes Studying About Nutrition Enjoyable!

Each summer season, the workers of the West Feliciana Parish Parks & Recreation hosts their summer season camp for youth 6-11 years previous. LSU AgCenter Nutrition and Community Health Agent Layne Langley has been delivering vitamin packages at this camp for years and this summer season was no completely different. She introduced power and enthusiasm to the camp, visiting 4 instances to encourage the youngsters with enjoyable, hands-on classes about wholesome consuming and vitamin.

During the Snacks Program, Langley led an interactive session on good snacking, educating campers easy methods to make more healthy meals selections utilizing the enjoyable and easy-to-remember “Go, Slow, and Whoa’ method.” Campers discovered easy methods to spot the distinction between ‘Go,’ ‘Slow,’ and ‘Whoa’ snacks—the place Go snacks are nice for anytime, Slow snacks are greatest loved sometimes, and Whoa snacks are treats to avoid wasting for particular moments. To put their new information into observe, campers explored a wide range of nutrient-rich snack choices, studying easy methods to gasoline their our bodies with tasty, healthful selections all through the day. One of the highlights was the Go Go Go for Go Snacks exercise, the place campers teamed as much as kind meals playing cards into ‘Go’ and ‘Whoa’ classes. To wrap up this system, the campers ready Herbed Popcorn & Pretzel Mix, a straightforward, nutritious snack they discovered each enjoyable to make and attractive to eat.

The campers had a blast throughout the Physical Activity Program, the place they received shifting with enjoyable video games and workouts. They additionally mentioned why staying energetic issues. Langley inspired them to brainstorm the various advantages of each day bodily exercise, from boosting power and temper to constructing sturdy muscle tissues and bones, serving to them join motion with lifelong well being. Laughter and pleasure stuffed the fitness center throughout Activity Charades, the place campers acted out completely different bodily actions whereas their teammates guessed. It was a enjoyable and energetic approach to reinforce the significance of motion! Campers additionally loved enjoying Hit the Deck, a full of life relay sport the place they drew playing cards that challenged them to carry out completely different bodily actions. It was a enjoyable approach to preserve everybody shifting. Each camper created their very own festive Red, White, & Blue Parfait, layering creamy yogurt with candy strawberries and juicy blueberries for a scrumptious and nutritious deal with.

As a part of the Fats of Life Program, campers explored the distinction between wholesome and unhealthy fat. In a fast-paced crew problem, campers raced to kind meals playing cards into buckets labeled ‘Healthy Fat’ and ‘Unhealthy Fat’. To assist campers visualize how a lot fats might be hidden in on a regular basis meals, Langley led a robust hands-on demonstration. Several campers wore a neck card that includes a meals merchandise from a typical day’s menu, whereas their fellow campers guessed how a lot fats was in every merchandise. As solutions have been revealed, Langley measured out the fats utilizing shortening, inserting it on plates for all to see. A second group of campers wore playing cards representing a more healthy, modified menu, and the shortening was once more used to indicate the decreased fats content material. Campers have been amazed by the visible distinction and shortly realized how a couple of easy substitutions might considerably in the reduction of on unhealthy fat.

Power Up with Breakfast was the ultimate summer season program Langley delivered. She led a dialogue on nutrient-rich breakfast meals and the various advantages of beginning the day with a wholesome breakfast, like improved focus, higher power, and stronger our bodies. Campers shared artistic suggestions for serving to youth make breakfast a each day behavior, from making ready the night time earlier than to selecting fast, healthful choices. Campers swapped the standard Egg Spoon Relay for a artistic twist, racing throughout the fitness center with tennis balls balanced on spoons. They additionally teamed up for the Pass the Milk Jug problem, the place they raced to go empty milk jugs overhead and below their legs in an thrilling relay. The program wrapped up with the campers making ready Peanut Butter, Banana, and Strawberry Quesadillas. It was not solely candy but additionally a satisfying snack that could possibly be made for breakfast!

Thank you goes to Lorie Grezaffi with the West Feliciana Parish Parks & Rec Department for offering the elements that made all of the scrumptious recipes doable, and to Coach Preston King for his assist and help all through the packages.

For extra details about the vitamin packages in West Feliciana Parish, contact Layne Langley at 225-635-3614 or at lalangley@agcenter.lsu.edu