Safe Food For the Hungry -- II

Learning Center Activities Part 2: Nutrition

Learning Center Activity 5:
Creative Meal Planning Lesson Plans

Objectives:

During this activity, participants will use their knowledge of the Food Guide Pyramid to develop menus using foods commonly available in not-for-profit food distribution organizations. Specifically, participants will:

• create menus using foods commonly found in food banks
• practice using the food guide pyramid to create nutritious meals
• practice reading labels and determining serving size

Materials:

• Food Guide Pyramid, Commodity Food Pyramid, and Food Label posters
• Sample food bag contents lists

Preparation for activity:

1. Photocopy the Sample Food Bag list following this activity
   
   
2. Separate each food on the list by cutting on the lines
   
   
3. Place each set of foods in an envelop
   
   
4. Prepare several envelopes
   
   
5. Copy the Instruction Sheets following this activity

Instructions for activity:

1. Hang the Food Guide Pyramid, Commodity Food Pyramid, and Food Label posters on the wall.
   
   
2. Post the Instruction Sheets.
   
   
3. Place the envelopes on the table.
   
   
4. Allow participants to examine the posters.
   
   
5. Encourage the participants to take an envelope and see how many different ways they can combine the foods to make nutritious meals for a family of 4.
   
   
6. Encourage participants to record their menus on the worksheet in their Participant's Workbook.

Sample Food Bag List

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1 lb. rice

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16 oz. can pears

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1 box Rice Crispies

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8 oz. jar cheeze dip with salsa

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1 lb. dried navy beans

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1 lb. hot dogs

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16 oz. can tomato sauce

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1 lb. spaghetti

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16 oz. can green beans

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20 oz. jar of spaghetti sauce

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16 oz. can corn

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1 loaf of bread

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5 lbs. corn meal

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16 oz jar of peanut butter

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1 can of tuna

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1 large bottle salad dressing

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Learning Center Activity 5:
Creative Meal Planning Work Sheets

Creative Meal Planning Worksheet

How many ways can you combine the sample food bag foods below to make interesting and nutritious meals for a family of 4?

Food Bag Foods:

rice
canned pears
Rice Crispies
dried navy beans
hot dogs
tomato sauce
canned green beans
spaghetti sauce
canned corn
bread
corn meal
peanut butter
tuna
salad dressing

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Menus:           Food Bag                  Supplemental
                 Foods Used:               Foods Needed:
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Learning Center Activity 5:
Creative Meal Planning Instruction Sheets

Are You a Creative Meal Planner?

• Take a sample food bag envelope.
  
  
• Look at the cards for the contents.
  
  
• Put the cards together in various ways to produce nutritious menu items.
  
  
• Record your menus on the worksheet in your Participant's Workbook.
  
  
• What supplemental foods are needed to complete the menus?
  
  
• See how many different menus you can make with the food bag foods.