Nutrition and Physical Activity
Making healthy food choices and getting active are at the heart of the Poe Center’s Nutrition & Physical Activity programs.
Students learn about the five food groups using our gigantic magnetic food plate. The interactive nutrition kiosk demonstrates how to read a food label and the nutritional differences between food choices. Engaging activities make learning fun and memorable.
As a proud recipient of the SNAP-Ed grant, the Poe Center is able to provide intensive nutrition and physical activity programming to many low-income populations in North Carolina.
Religious protections for USDA program beneficiaries | Nondiscrimination Statement / Aviso de No Discriminación
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Grow It, Try It, Like It
Schedule this program for: Preschool, Kindergarten,
Pre-schoolers will enjoy physical activity, literacy, songs, nutrition education activities and a fruit or vegetable tasting in this seven-session series. The 30-minute sessions are built on the MyPlate model and introduce participants to three fruits - peaches, strawberries, and cantaloupe, and three vegetables - spinach, sweet potatoes, and crookneck squash. This garden-themed nutrition education program can be done as a series of sessions or as an individual session.
Take home materials promote learning at home with fun parent/participant activities and family-sized recipes that give tips for cooking with participants.
Can be scheduled for 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7 sessions.
Program Length: 30 minutes/ session
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Fitness Is Fun
Schedule this program for: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade,
The emphasis is on fun as participants learn about the activity pyramid and why being active is so important. An interactive game teaches kids how to pack a tasty yet nutritious lunch.
Program Length: 45 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
PoeMANIA!
Schedule this program for: Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade, 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade, 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Adults,
Are you ready to “come on down” to participate in a fun-filled game show? Join our wacky hosts for a nutrition and physical activity themed, interactive and educational program. This program is designed for all ages. Groups of up to 200 can participate and FAMILIES can compete TOGETHER to reach the “Million Dollar” question. Please Note: This program is designed for large groups consisting of both youth and adults.
Ages: 5 and Up
Program Length: 1 hour -
Healthy Habits
Schedule this program for: 1st Grade,
Participants explore the importance of developing healthy habits, discuss food groups on the USDA’s MyPlate, and visit the “Poe Cafeteria” to practice building a balanced plate. The program promotes making half your plate fruits and vegetables, getting 60 minutes of physical activity daily, and having a healthy heart.
Program Length: 45 minutesMeets NC DPI Healthful Living Essential Standards:-
- First Grade:
- 1.NPA.1: Describe where food and water come from and their importance to the body.
- 1.NPA.1.1: Name the reasons why we need to drink water.
- 1.NPA.1.2: Explore a variety of foods and why it’s important to eat them.
- 1.NPA.1.3: Categorize the sources of a variety of foods.
- 1.NPA.2: Recognize the benefits of physical activity for the body.
- 1.NPA.2.1: List physical activities that are beneficial to your body.
- 1.NPA.2.2: Describe enjoyable physical activities that can be done inside and outside of school.
- First Grade:
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Menus, Muscles and More
Schedule this program for: 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade,
Participants review “MyPlate” and participate in a practical restaurant activity that addresses hidden sources of fat. They also ride the exer-cycle as a practical application of how calories provide our bodies with energy.
Program Length: 45 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
Play Hard, Stay Fit
Schedule this program for: 3rd Grade,
Play Hard, Stay Fit examines the questions of “What is exercise?” and “What does it mean to be healthy?” Using the Activity Pyramid, participants examine personal fitness goals, the benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and how physical activity benefits every aspect of their lives.
Program Length: 45 minutesMeets NC DPI Healthful Living Essential Standards:-
- Third Grade
- 3.NPA.1: Recall why the body needs a variety of foods.
- 3.3.NPA.1.1: Recall the food groups and what foods are in each food group, according to the USDA.
- 3.NPA.1.2: Identify food group components of a variety of example meals.
- 3.NPA.1.3: Plan activities for fitness and recreation during out of school hours.
- 3.NPA.2: Investigate factors that influence which foods we eat.
- 3.NPA.2.1: List the factors that influence which foods you eat.
- 3.NPA.2.2: List the body's signals when you are hungry and thirsty.
- 3.NPA.3: Examine the benefits of physical activity.
- 3.NPA.3.1: Categorize different activities for all levels of ability in order to promote overall wellness.
- PE.3.HF.3: Demonstrate the knowledge and skills needed to achieve a health-enhancing level of physical activity and fitness.
- PE.3.HF.3.1: Identify four or more of the five health-related fitness components (cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, and body composition) and their associated exercises.
- PE.3.HF.3.2: Demonstrate understanding of physical activity as a way to become healthier.
- PE.3.HF.3.3: Develop personal goals to improve one or more of the health-related fitness components
- Third Grade
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Food for Thought
Schedule this program for: 4th Grade, 5th Grade,
Have your students ever asked… Why do we need food? What is “MyPlate”? What are the different food groups, and do I need to eat foods from all of them? How does media influence food choices? Are all body types the same? Is dieting healthy? If you said yes to any of these questions, don’t give it a second thought; sign up for this program today. The session will answer each of these questions and more.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
Media Mythbusters
Schedule this program for: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade,
Media Mythbusters is a nutrition program that guides students through the harms of fad-diets and helps them understand how the media can influence food choices. Students will learn the signs of inaccurate versus accurate nutrition information, as well as food marketing tactics. By the end of this program, students will be able to analyze and decipher the media to understand its messages and have a greater knowledge of nutrition.
Program Length: 60 minutes Program type: VirtualMeets Essential Standards: -
Mission Nutrition
Schedule this program for: 6th Grade, 7th Grade, 8th Grade,
Mission Nutrition is an interactive and conversational program that explores the challenge of balancing food and physical activity. Activities are designed to help participants discover the importance of food labels and the barriers to healthy eating and the risk associated with over- and under-eating. Participants are also helped to understand messages in the media targeting teens, and how they affect their food choices.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
Strong and Balanced (Online Only)
Schedule this program for: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Adults,
This program is geared specifically for teens and young adults to provide tips for staying physically and emotionally balanced during stressful times...like quarantine.
Program Length: 30 - 45 minutes -
Wellness Works
Schedule this program for: 9th Grade, 10th Grade, 11th Grade, 12th Grade,
Wellness Works builds on participants’ knowledge of basic nutrition and physical activity. This program uses USDA guidelines to demonstrate how to plan healthy meal patterns. Participants will examine healthy eating habits that enhance good nutrition, analyze food labels, learn about normal growth during puberty, identify media and peer pressures that result in unhealthy weight control, and chronic diseases that can occur due to lack of physical activity or unhealthy eating habits.
Program Length: 60 minutesMeets Essential Standards: -
Nourish & Thrive
Schedule this program for: 11th Grade, 12th Grade, Adults,
Have you ever wondered about the connection between your physical health and mental wellness? Nourish & Thrive uncovers the mystery of nutrition, physical activity, the gut biome, and mental wellness. This program promotes brain development with activities focused on healthy habits, self-care tips, neurotransmitter function, and nutrition.
Nutrition topics include USDA MyPlate food groups, hydration, and foods to prioritize a healthy gut.
Program Length: 60 minutes
Meets NC DPI Healthful Living Essential Standards:-
- 9.MEH.1.1 Identify causes, symptoms, and strategies for treating mental health challenges.
- 9.MEH.2.2 Explore healthy strategies for managing stress, anxiety, anger, and impulsive behaviors.
- 9.ANCOD.2.2 Evaluate positive and negative influences on health practices and behaviors.
- 9.PCH.1.7 Assess personal health practices and overall health status.
- 9.NPA.1.2 Summarize the benefits of consuming the six essential nutrients in adequate amounts in a variety of foods.
- 9.NPA.2.2 Summarize the effects of hydration and dehydration and preventative measures for dehydration.
- 9.NPA.3 Analyze health behaviors in relation to community and global disease prevention.
- 9.NPA.4 Apply lifelong nutrition and physical activity concepts to enhance quality of life.
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Healthy POEtential Series
Schedule this program for: Adults,
Healthy POEtential is four-session family education series which promotes healthy habits to adults and their families. This informative and interactive program covers:
- Nutrition and physical activity basics.
- In depth discussion around food groups, reading food labels and portion sizes.
- How to get the most out of your food budget.
- A virtual "Grocery Store Tour".
Program Length: Four 60 minute sessions
