Lunch Time Helper

CONCEPT: Choosing Appropriate Low Protein Foods

 

BRIEF SUMMARY

Children choose foods to make a healthy, low protein lunch.

 

OBJECTIVES

After completing this activity, children will be able to:

  • identify low and high protein foods
  • select foods that they would enjoy and that are appropriate for a lunch or snack

 

METHODS

  1. Lead a discussion asking questions such as:
    • What do you like to eat for lunch?
    • Do you get to choose what you eat all the time? Sometimes? (As you get older, you will get to choose many of the foods that you eat, and it is important that you know how to choose low protein, nutritious foods.)
    • Do you help your mom or dad cook? Do you tell them what you would like to eat?
    • Do you ever take your lunch (to school, to a picnic...)? Do you help to pick what you take? What kinds of foods would you like to take?

     

  2. Distribute paper plates.

    Explain, "Today we're going to pretend that we need to pack a lunch to take somewhere. There are pictures of foods on the table. Pick the foods that you want to take and paste them onto your plate. Remember, we want to make a healthy, low phe lunch. If you want, you can draw or color on your plate too."

  3. Children color and paste lunch (or snack) choices on their paper plate.
  4. Lead a discussion:
    • Are the foods that you picked "yes" foods or "no" foods?
    • Why did you pick....?
    • What could you drink with this lunch? (formula, water, apple juice)
    • What other kinds of foods could you pick?
    • What would you pick if you were packing a lunch to go on a picnic?

 

MATERIALS

  • Pictures of food, such as: formula, low protein bread, variety of fruits and vegetables (such as lettuce, carrots, olives, mushrooms, green peppers, cucumbers, tomatoes, pears, apples, bananas, oranges, raisins, etc.), jelly, margarine, pickles, low protein crackers, low protein pasta and sauce. Include a few high protein foods for discussion purposes, to reinforce making low protein/low phe food choices (such as lunch meat, regular milk, nuts, cheese, etc).
  • Paper plates
  • Paste
  • Crayons

 

HOME ACTIVITIES

Actively involve your child in the preparation of his/her lunch.

 

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