Target Audience. National Standards Alignment. How to Use This Program. About the USDA Dietary Guidelines

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1 Dear Educator, The new Dietary Guidelines from the USDA provide a decidedly different and exciting direction in consumer nutrition, focusing on the goal of adopting healthier eating patterns that span a lifetime. To help you integrate these new guidelines into your class plans, the National Pork Board and the award-winning curriculum specialists at Young Minds Inspired (YMI) have teamed up to create this supplement to the Step Up to a Healthier You program (available online at ymiclassroom.com/wpcontent/uploads/2012/09/ stepuptoahealthieryou.pdf). The activities in this supplement will help you teach your students about making small changes to their diets to support overall healthier eating patterns. Using MyPlate guidelines, students will practice meal planning as they are reminded that lean protein, including several cuts of pork, is an important part of their diet. We encourage you to share this valuable supplement with your school s food service director and your fellow educators. Although it is copyrighted, you may make as many copies as you need. Sincerely, Dr. Dominic Kinsley Editor in Chief Young Minds Inspired YMI is the only company developing free, innovative classroom materials that is owned and directed by award-winning former teachers. Visit our website at to send feedback and download more free programs. For questions contact us at or us at feedback@ymiclassroom.com. Target Audience This supplement is designed for students in middle/junior high school Family and Consumer Science classes. It can be tailored to suit your students needs and abilities. National Standards Alignment This supplement meets the following Family and Consumer Science Standards: Demonstrate nutrition and wellness practices that enhance individual and family well-being. Evaluate food plans, preparation techniques, and specialized dietary plans. How to Use This Program Review the information in this guide and on the activity masters. Make photocopies of the activity masters for each student and schedule time to complete the activities in class. Have students take the activity sheets home. About the USDA Dietary Guidelines The new guidelines are based on a growing awareness of how a lifestyle based on healthy eating patterns reduces the risk of chronic disease. The key points are: 1. Focus food choices on what you can eat, not what you can t. 2. Choose recommended amounts of nutrientdense foods from all food groups instead of constantly counting calories. 3. Limit calories from added sugars and saturated fats and reduce sodium intake. Follow label recommendations and cut back on foods and beverages that exceed limits. 4. Including cultural and personal preferences in your food choices will bring greater success in making changes that support a healthy eating pattern. 5. Physical activity is integral to managing weight and preventing disease. Activity 1: Patterns for Life Review the new guideline recommendations with students. Remind them that the three menu options listed under Start Small are all nutrient-dense, and therefore, their choice should be based on their personal food preference and the nutrient that is added to their diet as a result. Students can find nutrient information at ndb/search/list. Distribute the MyPlate reproducible sheet and have students work individually or in groups to design a balanced meal for Dinner Winners that supports a healthy eating pattern based on lean pork as the source of protein. (Lean cuts of pork include tenderloin, pork chops, and sirloin roast.) Remind them that pairing pork with fruits and vegetables is an easy and tasty way to meet the USDA dietary guidelines. Pork is nutritious, affordable, and easy to prepare. Students may use these online resources: PorkBeInspired.com porkandhealth.org choosemyplate.gov/myplate-mywins choosemyplate.gov/content/add-morevegetables-your-day choosemyplate.gov/focus-on-fruits choosemyplate.gov/ten-tips-make-halfyour-whole-grains-whole After completing their menus, have students switch them with a classmate and ask each person to suggest alternatives to the items chosen. Have them compare nutrients between the various choices. How successful were they in creating balanced meals? What nutrition upgrades could they make?. Activity 2: Make Mealtime Family Time There are two versions of this take-home activity. Choose one or have students take both sheets home to share with their parents. In a week or two, survey your students to see who has helped their family make one of the suggested recipes. Activity Extension: Have students go online to the Kid-Friendly Collection at PorkBeInspired. com and choose a week s worth of healthful recipes they think their family would enjoy. Recipes for Kids Kid-friendly Recipes: PorkBeInspired.com (Search Kid-Friendly under Collections.) Other Online Resources Pork and Health: porkandhealth.org Dietary Guidelines for Americans: /guidelines/ choosemyplate.gov/snapshot dietary-guidelines-americans U.S. Department of Agriculture MyPlate: choosemyplate.gov Young Minds Inspired: ymiclassroom.com

2 Activity 1: Patterns for Life Eating healthy just got easier and more rewarding! The USDA s new Dietary Guidelines for are all about what you can eat, not what you can t! The goal is to establish healthy eating patterns that, over time, help maintain good health and prevent disease. Now you can upgrade your diet by pairing favorite foods with more nutrient-dense foods to make healthier combinations. Staying physically active helps seal the deal for better health over time! Tips for Healthy Eating Patterns Your eating pattern represents what you normally eat based on your personal, cultural, and traditional preferences as well as your family s budget. To make your eating pattern healthier: Eat a variety of foods that contain high-quality nutrients in relation to the amount of calories they contain. Upgrade food favorites by pairing them with nutrient-dense options and shift to healthier food and beverage choices over time. Keep portion sizes in check by eating recommended amounts. Cut back on foods and beverages with added sugars and saturated fats, as well as those high in sodium. Start Small Success in achieving healthier eating patterns comes by taking small steps within your normal routine. Try it out! Review the scenarios below, choose your preferred option, and write in the nutrient(s) your choice will add and why you chose it. Breakfast Scenario You need a quick breakfast to be on time for school, so you reach for a cereal bar. Nutrient Upgrade Options 8-ounce glass of lowfat milk Slice of whole-grain toast Apple Option/Nutrients added: I chose this option because. Lunch Scenario Your team just won a tough game. Everyone is starving, and you all head across the street for a quick pork taco. Nutrient Upgrade Options Ask for veggies with the taco. Skip the tortilla chips and ask for fruit. Skip the soda and go for chocolate milk. Option/Nutrients added: I chose this option because. Dinner Winners Using MyPlate for meal planning is a great way to visualize building a balanced meal that supports healthy eating patterns. Plan and record a meal featuring lean pork as the protein on the MyPlate activity sheet your teacher gave you. Lean cuts like pork chops and tenderloin are rich in nutrients and low in fat and cholesterol. Be sure to follow food safety rules and cook pork chops, roasts, and tenderloin to an internal temperature of between 145 F (medium rare) and 160 F (medium), followed by a 3-minute rest.

3 Activity 2: Make Mealtime Family Time Dear Parent, Your child has been learning about how the updated USDA Dietary Guidelines now emphasize establishing healthier eating patterns as part of an overall health strategy for life. Making small changes that work for your family, like switching out fries for fruit when making a fast food run, or adding more veggies or fruits to your family s favorite meals, will help you incorporate the new guidelines into your family s food routines. We also hope that you will consider including lean cuts of pork in your daily meals. Lean cuts, like pork chops and tenderloin, are great choices because they are rich in nutrients and low in calories, cholesterol, and fat. Below is a delicious, easy-to-prepare and kid-friendly pork recipe. Invite your child into the kitchen and enjoy fun family time together as you prepare it tonight! Add berries with lowfat or non-fat yogurt to enjoy this tasty, nutritious meal at home! Instructions Sauteed Pork Tenderloin Medallions with Lemon 10 minutes prep, 10 minutes cook. Serves 4. Ingredients 1 pork tenderloin (1 lb.), trimmed ¼ tsp. salt, divided ¼ tsp. plus ⅛ tsp. black pepper, divided 2 tsp. olive oil, divided 2 cloves garlic, minced ½ cup dry white wine or low-sodium chicken broth as an alcohol substitute ½ cup low-sodium chicken broth Grated zest and 1 Tb. lemon juice, from 1 lemon 1 Tb. fresh parsley, chopped, or 1½ tsp. chopped fresh sage or rosemary* 1. Cut pork into 12 slices, about 1 thick. Sprinkle on all sides with ⅛ tsp. of the salt and ¼ tsp. of the pepper. Heat 1 tsp. of the oil in a large heavy skillet on medium-high. Add pork and cook, turning once, until well browned and internal temperature reaches 145 F, about 1½ minutes on each side. Transfer pork to serving platter and cover to keep warm. 2. Add the remaining 1 tsp. oil to skillet. Add garlic and cook, stirring constantly until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Add the wine and broth. Heat to high and cook, stirring to scrape up the browned bits from the skillet, reducing liquid by two-thirds, about 5 minutes. 3. Remove skillet from the heat and stir in the remaining ⅛ tsp. salt, remaining ⅛ tsp. pepper, the lemon zest and juice, and the parsley. Serve medallions drizzled with the sauce (makes a generous ⅓ cup; about 1½ Tb. per serving). *To substitute fresh herbs with dried herbs, use 1½ tsp. dried parsley, ¾ tsp. dried sage, or ¾ tsp. dried rosemary. Nutrition Calories: 150; Protein: 24 grams; Fat: 5 grams; Sodium: 220 milligrams; Cholesterol: 75 milligrams; Saturated Fat: 1 gram; Carbohydrates: 1 gram; Fiber: 0 grams For more tasty and nutritious pork recipes and tips, visit

4 Activity 2: Make Mealtime Family Time Dear Parent, Your child has been learning about how the updated USDA Dietary Guidelines now emphasize establishing healthier eating patterns as part of an overall health strategy for life. Making small changes that work for your family, like switching out fries for fruit when making a fast food run, or adding more veggies or fruits to your family s favorite meals, will help you incorporate the new guidelines into your family s food routines. We also hope that you will consider including lean cuts of pork in your daily meals. Lean cuts, like pork chops and tenderloin, are great choices because they are rich in nutrients and low in calories, cholesterol, and fat. Below is a delicious, easy-to-prepare and kid-friendly pork recipe. Invite your child into the kitchen and enjoy fun family time together as you prepare it tonight! Pair this recipe with a simple mixed-greens salad, grapes, and lowfat or non-fat milk to boost the nutritional value of this tasty entrée at home! Instructions Easy, Breezy Honey-Chipotle Pork Kabobs 15 minutes prep, 45 minutes cook. Serves 4. Ingredients 1 lb. New York (top loin) pork chops, about 1 thick, cut into 1 cubes 1 orange-fleshed sweet potato (about 12 oz.), cut into 1 cubes 12 oz. small red or white potatoes, about 1 in diameter (or halved if 2 in diameter) Salt, to taste ½ cup barbecue sauce ½ cup honey 3 canned chipotle chiles in adobo sauce, minced, or more to taste 12 scallions, white and light green parts only, cut into 1 pieces ½ cup goat cheese, crumbled 1 Tb. fresh cilantro, chopped 1. Place all potatoes in a medium saucepan and cover with 1 cold water seasoned with salt. Bring to a boil over high heat, then reduce to a simmer and cook until potatoes are still firm, 3-5 minutes. Drain and set aside to cool slightly 2. Combine barbecue sauce, honey, and chipotles in a small bowl. Divide mixture in half and set both batches aside. 3. Thread pork, potatoes, and scallions onto 8 12 skewers (pre-soaked in water if wood or bamboo). Cook 2½ to 3 minutes on each side on an oiled grill heated to medium-hot, brushing with one batch of sauce on each turn. Cook until all sides are browned, pork is cooked through, and the sauce is depleted, about 10 minutes. Transfer skewers to a platter and let rest 3 minutes. 4. Sprinkle skewers with cheese and cilantro. Serve hot with the remaining batch of sauce on the side. Nutrition (2 skewers) Calories: 530; Protein: 29 grams; Fat: 10 grams; Sodium: 560 milligrams; Cholesterol: 80 milligrams; Saturated Fat: 3 grams; Carbohydrates: 83 grams; Fiber: 6 grams For more tasty and nutritious pork recipes and tips, visit

5 Go with Lean Protein Pick Pork