Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition)

Overview

Eating Right is Basic through Penn State Extention Office (Third Edition) is designed to teach individuals or small groups of individuals with low incomes how to choose and prepare healthful meals. Lessons cover basic nutrition, food resource management, food safety, and food preparation. The information is appropriate to use with limited-literacy adults.

The information in the lessons is based on current food and nutrition recommendations of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and other recognized national organizations. The lessons incorporate the USDA Food Guide Pyramid, FDA and USDA food labeling regulations, and USDA Dietary Guidelines for Americans.

Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition) lessons are appropriate for a diverse audience. Illustrations show individuals and foods from different cultures. Originally designed to be used with participants in the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP), the materials are also appropriate for participants in the Food and Nutrition Program (FNP), other Extension programs, the Women, Infants and Children (WIC) supplemental feeding program, and parents of children in the Head Start program.

Most lessons include "Going Further" and "Information for Instructor." Going further is included after the basic lesson text and provides information to expand the basic lesson and/or meet individual participant needs. For example, in the Food Guide Pyramid lesson, "Going further" states why smokers need more vitamin C, information that might not be taught to all participants. "Information for instructor" provides some suggestions or background information that might help instructors respond to participants' questions. For example, in the Understanding Food Labels lesson, "Information for Instructor" states what foods are not required to have nutrition labeling.

Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition) Materials

The curriculum lessons are available in the form of 16 flip charts or a set of VHS videotapes. The flip chart lessons may be used with individuals or small groups. For larger groups, the videotape lessons are recommended. The flip charts present an illustration on one side of the page and corresponding text on the reverse side of the previous page; thereby matching the visible text and illustration.

The flip charts are not bound, allowing for flexibility in teaching. Lessons could easily be combined, reorganized or expanded. One complete script of the lessons, to be used when the flip chart illustrations are arranged in a different order, is available upon request.

A set of transparencies or camera-ready sheets with key words and phrases in Spanish, is also available. The transparencies can be inserted into the flip charts and used by Spanish-speaking instructors. The handouts and videotapes are also available in Spanish.

Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition) Lessons

The first set of lessons in the curriculum, beginning with Introducing Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition) and continuing through Keeping Food Safe, provides the core information for the curriculum. The lessons on each of the food groups reinforce and build on these core lessons. The last set of lessons, beginning with Breakfast-A Healthy Way to Start the Day and continuing through Eating Right and Light, may not be necessary for all participants.

Flip chart number	Lesson title
1	Introducing Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition) Starting with the Basics - Food, Equipment, and Knowledge
2	The Food Guide Pyramid
3	Understanding Food Labels
4	Planning Makes a Difference
5	Making the Most of Your Food Dollars
6	Keeping Food Safe
7	The Bread, Cereal, Rice, & Pasta Group
8	The Vegetable Group
9	The Fruit Group
10	The Milk, Yogurt, & Cheese Group
11	The Meat, Poultry, Fish, Dry Beans, Eggs, & Nuts Group
12	Breakfast - A Healthy Way to Start the Day Choosing Healthy Snacks
13	Eating Right for Two
14	Feeding Your New Baby (0 to 4 months)
15	Feeding Infants (4 to 12 months) and Children
16	Eating Right and Light

[Note: This edition of the curriculum does not include lessons on gardening or preserving food, because these two lessons in the original curriculum were rarely ordered.]

Supplemental lesson - Immunization is Basic

Immunization is Basic is a supplemental lesson compatible in format with Eating Right is Basic (Third Edition). Organizations coordinating with public health to promote early childhood education can order this lesson for $15.00 each through MSU EFNEP, 202 Wills House, East Lansing, MI 48824; phone: 517-353-9102 or FAX: 517-353-4846.