Making Healthy Choices
Fifth Grade students learned how to use Microsoft Excel spreadsheets and how to
chart their results.
The subject we used was nutrition. Students chose what they
would eat for a day if they were allowed to eat out at restaurants for all
three meals. We found some surprising
results and were amazed at how many calories
were in our favorite restaurant food items!
Guidelines for Calories (provided
by the USDA Center for Nutrition) are as follows: Additional
information can be found at: http://www.cnpp.usda.gov/
Children ages 9 to 13
require 1,600 to 2,600 calories daily, depending on their gender and activity
level.
For example, 9- to
13-year-old girls need 1,400 to 1,600 calories daily if they are sedentary,
1,600 to 2,000 calories if they are moderately active and 1,800 to 2,200
calories a day if they are regularly active.
Boys within the same
age range require 1,600 to 2,000 calories a day if they are sedentary, 1,800 to
2,200 calories if they’re moderately active and 2,000 to 2,600 calories daily
if they are active on a regular basis.
Click here for some suggestions for replacing
unhealthy foods with healthier alternatives.
Most important– stay active, get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day! It’s easy for kids to get in physical
activity each day. Walking, jumping,
running, riding bikes, as well as sports provide easy, enjoyable ways to help your child meet the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s recommendation of 60 minutes of
physical activity each day. Be a role model for physical activity! More information on
physical activity can be found at:
http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/basics/children/
