Healthy Lifestyles

Overview 

Throughout the Texas 4-H & Youth Development Program, more than 120,000 youth participate in healthy lifestyles programs, encompassing the food and nutrition, health and safety projects.  Through food and nutrition project activities, youth learn to make healthy food choices, improve energy and alertness, and gain knowledge of nutrients.

Youth also learn how to improve physical, intellectual, emotional and social health through participation in the health project. Specifically, youth learn about the importance of physical activity, proper hygiene, dental care, healthy snacking, vaccinations and sleep. Knowledge of how to reduce disease and illness risks is also explored.  Participation in the Walk Across Texas Program helps youth establish the habit of regular physical activity.  Safety concerns related to health issues, such as first aid, CPR and emergency preparedness, are also addressed in the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Program.

As a part of the learning experiences, youth also share with others what they have learned by presenting educational presentations to various groups and participating in community service activities that help promote good health practices in the community.

Curriculum

Serving Up MyPlate: A Yummy Curriculum – link

Winning with Nutrition

The goal of implementing the Winning with Nutrition Curriculum is to provide youth athletes in the 7th thru 9th grades an opportunity to learn about proper nutrition, dietary needs, supplements, hydration and healthy methods to increase physical performance.  

  • Winning with Nutrition Curriculum (4-H F&N 1-1) – PDF
  • Winning with Nutrition Informational Flyer – PDF
  • Winning with Nutrition: Eating for Excellence Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition: Hydration Station Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition: Game Day Dining Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition: Game Day Dining Jeopardy Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition: Performance Robbers Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition: Fads and Facts Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition Student Evaluation – PDF
  • Winning with Nutrition Teacher Evaluation – PDF
  • Winning with Nutrition Teacher Inservice Agenda – PDF
  • Winning with Nutrition Teacher Inservice Powerpoint – PPT
  • Winning with Nutrition Teacher Inservice Powerpoint w/ Notes – PDF
  • Winning with Nutrition Teacher Inservice Evaluation – PDF
  • Balancing Food & Play – link
  • Nutrition Voyage: The Quest To Be Our Best – link

Balancing Food and Play

The Balancing Food & Play curriculum was designed to improve knowledge and behaviors related to snacking on fruits and vegetables, drinking milk with meals and water with snacks, encouraging at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day, and limiting screen time to two hours or less per day.  For more information on accessing the Balancing Food & Play curriculum, visit balance.tamu.edu.

Educational Opportunities

MASH Camp

4-H MASH Camp provides youth an opportunity to learn about higher education and career opportunities in the areas of medicine, accident and safety prevention and health. Activities include tours and hands-on experiences at the Texas A&M University Health Science Center, Health Research Labs, interaction with first responders, passenger safety and accident prevention demonstrations. The 2013 camp will be held June 23-25 in College Station. Registration is now open on 4-H CONNECT and will be open until May 31st or when the camp fills up, whichever comes first.  

  • Information on MASH camp – link
  • 2013 MASH Camp – link

Walk Across Texas

Walk Across Texas is a free, eight week program designed to help people of all ages support one another to establish the habit of regular physical activity.  The program is implemented throughout the year in Texas counties.  Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service has also partnered with the Texas Education Agency to offer Walk Across Texas to youth and employees in Texas school districts.  For more information on Walk Across Texas, visit http://walkacrosstexas.tamu.edu.

Food Challenge

The 4-H Food Challenge is a contest that allows 4-H members to demonstrate their culinary knowledge and skills. From a set of predetermined ingredients provided, teams of 3 to 5 4-H members must develop a recipe and prepare the dish within 40 minutes. Teams then make a presentation to a judging panel, explaining the preparation steps, serving size, food safety concerns, nutrition value and cost of the dish.

  • 4-H Food Challenge Manual, 2012-2013  – PDF

Educational Resources

  • Altering Recipes for Good Health – PDF
  • FightBac – Fight Foodborne Bacteria Brochure – PDF
  • MyPlate – 10 Tips to a Great Plate – PDF
  • Nutrient Needs at a Glance – PDF
  • South District 12 Video:  4-H Food Challenge – The Supply Box – link

Agent Resources

  • Food Challenge Planning Checklist – PDF
  • Food Challenge Evaluation (also available at od.tamu.edu) – PDF
  • 2011 Food Challenge Evaluation Summary – PDF
  • Foodie Fanatics Food Challenge Resource – PDF

The 4-H Food Challenge will be held at the 2013 San Antonio Livestock Show on Saturday, February 16th (Entry Deadline: December 1st). Youth will compete in the contest as individuals. More information is available at sarodeo.com

Healthy Lifestyles Invitational

The 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Invitational provides youth in the intermediate and senior age divisions the opportunity to participate in a competitive event and utilize the knowledge and skills gained through participation in 4-H healthy lifestyles programs. With a set-up similar to the Consumer Decision Making Contest, the healthy lifestyles invitational consists of two parts: (1) Judging – participants will be presented with a scenario and must individually rank the four products/choices based upon the situation at-hand; (2) Presentation – teams are presented with a scenario and must work together within a given amount of time to analyze the situation, develop a solution and make a team presentation to a panel of judges.

  • 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Invitational Manual, 2012-2013 - PDF
  • Healthy Lifestyles Invitational Training – Coming Soon!
  • Universal Form A Scantron – PDF

2013 Contest Resources

  • FIGHT BAC!:Four Simple Steps to Food Safety – PDF
  • Game Day Dining – PDF
  • Nutrient Needs at a Glance – PDF
  • Nutritious Snacks – PDF
  • Laws You Should Know Buckle Up – PDF
  • Performance Robbers – PDF
  • teendriversource.org – Research Put Into Action - PDF
  • Texas Graduated Drive License Program – PDF

Sample Classes from 2010 Invitational Contest

Sample Classes from 2011 Invitational Contest

Sample Classes from 2012 Invitational Contest

Food Show

New! The 2012-13 Food Show will have new categories and a theme. The categories are: Protein, Fruits & Vegetables, Grains & Dairy. The theme will be healthy holidays. The 4-H Food Show gives youth the opportunity for educational and personal development and recognizes members who excel in the 4-H Food and Nutrition Project. The Food Show is an individual contest in which a 4-H member prepares a dish in one of the contest categories and presents it to a panel of judges. During the presentation and interview with the judges, 4-H members exhibit the knowledge and skills gained through the 4-H Food and Nutrition Project, such as preparation steps, nutrients found in the dish, the functions of various ingredients, personal dietary needs, healthy substitutions, and cost analysis. Click here for more information and resources available for the Food Show.

Nutrition Quiz Bowl

A Quiz Bowl helps 4-H members enhance and demonstrate their knowledge and skills in a competitive setting. The Quiz Bowl involves teams of three or four members. Two teams compete against each other at one time, answering questions related to the subject matter with the use of an electronic buzzer system.  Click here for more information and resources available for the Nutrition Quiz Bowl.

Recipe Rally

In the 4-H Recipe Rally, intermediate and senior 4-H members are challenged with selecting, creating, and/or altering a recipe and submitting a video, via YouTube. The video should highlight the 4-H member demonstrating the preparation of the recipe while also highlighting nutrients, food safety practices, serving size and cost analysis, as well as their inspiration for selection or creation of the recipe. The theme for the 2013 contest is “Dairy?”

  • 4-H Recipe Rally Overview and Guidelines – PDF
  • Online Entry Form – link
  • 4-H Recipe Rally Scoresheet – PDF
  • Instructions – Posting video to YouTube – PDF
  • Sample Recipe Rally YouTube Video – link
  • Recipe Rally Training Video – link

Healthy Lifestyles Sweepstakes

The 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Sweepstakes provides an opportunity for youth, volunteers and County Extension Agents interested an opportunity to work together for additional recognition at Texas 4-H Roundup. Points for participation, and additional points for contest placing, will be given for each healthy lifestyles related contest.  The county with the most points will be awarded the Healthy Lifestyles Sweepstakes!

  • Healthy Lifestyles Sweepstakes Overview – PDF

Leadership Opportunities

Healthy Lifestyles Advisory Board

The Texas 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Advisory Board offers 4-H members, volunteers and County Extension Agents an opportunity to help guide and expand the 4-H healthy lifestyles program.  Applications are currently being accepted, with a due date of November 1st. 

  • Overview of the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Advisory Board – PDF

The Texas 4-H & Youth Development Program is pleased to announce a call for applications for the 4-H Healthy Lifestyles Advisory Board, which will offer 4-H members, volunteers and County Extension Agents an opportunity to help guide and expand the 4-H healthy lifestyles program. Applications will be accepted until November 1, 2012, and must be accompanied by a letter of support. 4-H members and volunteers must submit a letter of support from a County Extension Agent, while agents applying to serve on the advisory board must submit a letter of support from their District Extension Administrator or 4-H Specialist.

  •  Application for Advisory Board – PDF

4-H Health & Safety Officer Handbook

Youth have the opportunity to serve as a health and safety officer within their 4-H club, ensuring 4-H members understand the importance of good health and safety by leading health or safety related activities. A handbook is available to assist officers in planning and recording activities.

Contact:

Mrs. Courtney Dodd
Extension Program Specialist – 4-H
4180 Highway 6
College Station, TX 77845
Phone: 979-845-6533
Fax: 979-845-6495
E-mail: cfdodd@ag.tamu.edu

 

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