St. Francisville kids learned how to choose healthy snacks and beverages in a July 13 workshop led by Layne Langley, LSU AgCenter area nutrition agent. The Low Down on Snacks & Re-think Your Drink Workshop was at the Community Center in the West Feliciana community of Independence.
Langley taught MyPlate as a foundation to healthy eating. She taught the youth how to read and use the nutrition facts label to look for sodium, fat and added sugars in snacks and beverages.
Youth participated in Shake Up the Grocery Bag and worked to place food packages in order from high to low in sodium content without using the nutrition facts label. Then, Langley reviewed the placings having the youth look at the sodium content on the label. The students were surprised at what the labels told them about the sodium in the food they placed.
They also learned about fats and discovered ways to reduce the amount of fat in a daily meal by making food substitutions. During the physical activity break, the group listened to Langley read a story that included physical activity prompts.
Beverage choices were discussed. Langley had the group work in teams to place favorite beverage containers from high to low while looking at added sugars. The students received a quick cooking skills lesson before working together to prepare fruit smoothies. The students went home with several resources including fact sheets, liquid and dry measuring cups, and a vegetable/fruit brush.
Sara Wilson-Rogers, West Feliciana Parish School Board member and Healthy Communities Coalition member, sponsored and attended the workshop.