What's News? Spring 2022
News · May 19, 2022
Program News
Skills Based Nutrition Education
Seeds of Nutrition Grade 6
The C.E. Mendez Foundation has long believed that children equipped with the knowledge and skills they need to prioritize their health and their futures will make healthier choices on their journey to reaching their goals. For over forty years, we have effectively disseminated our philosophy in the areas of substance use prevention, violence prevention, character education, bullying prevention, and promoting healthy school environments. Today, we are pleased to announce our newest effort to prepare children and adolescents to make healthy choices. Seeds of Nutrition for Grade 6 takes the students on an engaging and interactive learning journey to promote a commitment to their health and provide the tools to reach health goals with an understanding of the nutrients needed for optimal health.
Seeds of Nutrition applies the prevention framework that underpins the evidence-based Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence prevention programs. The Seeds of Nutrition education strategy harnesses Normative Education, Health Behavior Theory, and Social Learning Theory among others to form health-promoting activities and reinforce protective factors for health prioritization. This theoretical framework is translated into relevant and developmentally appropriate activities and lessons to promote an enduring healthy relationship to nutrition and healthy living.
Look for more information about this exciting new addition to the Too Good family of programs this fall.
Why Nutrition Education?
It is not a secret that the foods we eat are a primary factor in our overall health and well-being. Most people know that “you are what you eat” and recognize that eating a variety of nutritious foods and limiting sweets and treats yields a positive impact on our physical health. Building a healthy relationship to food from a young age sets a positive expectation in children to value their role in supporting health and making healthier choices. To put knowledge into action, practicing and reinforcing the motivation, skills, and strategies to choose nutrient dense foods, get enough rest, exercise, and stay hydrated puts us on the path to health today and in the future. This is especially true with children and teens whose impulse control capabilities are developing.
While children tend to favor less nutritious foods, their growing bodies and brains rely on proper nutrition to thrive. A diet consisting of a variety of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, dairy and protein provides the nutrients children and teens need to grow and function optimally. Critical to proper brain development and cognitive functioning, the vitamins and minerals found in unprocessed foods build strong bodies, provide sustained energy throughout the day, and promote better sleep at night.
Healthy eating habits formed at a young age establish a foundation for prioritizing healthy food choices and a healthy body throughout life. Applying prevention principles to nutrition education boosts positive health priorities in children and is consistent with a healthy lifestyle. As we strive to equip the youth of tomorrow with the knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy to maximize their potential, we are planting the seeds for a lifetime of health and fulfillment.
Curriculum Bundles
Curriculum Bundles make it easier to deliver both Too Good for Drugs and TGFV-A Peaceable Place or TGFV-Social Perspectives in one seamless implementation. Bundles are available at each grade level K-8 to combine the lesson content, activity materials, Home Workouts, lesson extenders, and Evaluation Instruments in Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence. Expand your school or community prevention program with a Too Good Curriculum Bundle and teach more in less time.
Curriculum Bundles available in Standard and Large Classroom configurations.
Upcoming Open Enrollment Trainings
Curriculum Training Sessions
- Chicago, IL - June 14-16, 2022
- Los Angeles, CA - August 9-11, 2022
- Boston, MA - October 4-6, 2022
Too Good Curriculum Trainings combine evidence-based prevention strategies and proven best practices to give you the skills, knowledge base, and confidence to deliver Too Good effectively. Our professional trainers bring extensive, real-world classroom experience to our training sessions so you can get the most out of your Too Good implementation. Training for Too Good for Drugs and Too Good for Violence for Elementary, Middle School, and High School is available in single day sessions at each development level.
Would You Like to Receive Our Catalog?
The 2022 Too Good catalog is available now. If you are on the mailing list, you should receive your copy soon. If you aren’t on the list, sign up to request your free copy by mail, or browse the Too Good programs and more at toogoodprograms.org.
Upcoming Conferences
We look forward to connecting with you! If you are planning to attend these events, come by and see us. We’d love to say hi and connect.
National Charter School Conference
June 19-22, 2022 - Washington, D.C.
Booth 269
American School Counselor Association Annual Conference
July 9-12, 2022 - Austin, TX
Booth 202