I wish you could have heard the excitment when I read the email to my students during 2nd period. I was doing the happy dance and we all gave high fives.
Thank you so much. We can't wait to get the Monster iMac and set it up.
Friday, February 26, 2010
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Reflection of Playnormous
1. How are Playnormous games used in your classroom or library?
My high school curriculum in Health Fitness aligns with the Playnormous games and information located on the website. I am passionate about nutrition and exercise and feel that I need to present information to my students in a motivating and creative manner. Playnormous games have been the answer for me this semester!! As I searched for new and creative sites to add to my curriculum, I found Playnormous and saw that this is the piece that I needed to keep students actively engaged and reach them in a creative way that would encourage them to carry the information home. Students began by searching through the information presented on the site and then gave me feedback on the information they learned. Then the students were turned lose to play the games. They were instantly hooked and I had a hard time making them log out at the end of our 90 minute class. The following day, we discussed what they learned from the games and what areas we needed work on to gain a full understanding about the foods they were eating and their daily food intake. We also began to search for food myths as the students were stunned about the “junk food and poor choices” they thought were healthy. Students arrived to class on time as they were allowed to get on the few laptops that I have available to them and begin to play games. We made this part of our daily routine and the end of class when we have free time to play, they opted to play the games. Seeing that this was such a hit with my students, we decided that we had to have a tournament. We booked the computer lab which is very difficult to do and played for days. I knew that the information they were learning was reaching them in a creative way and most likely would remain with them longer than it would through a traditional lecture environment. Students had to be reminded that this was just a game as they became so competitive. Without my direction, students then organized a tournament during lunch time where they gathered with their laptops and challenged each other. I am thrilled that they also decided that on Fabulous Friday’s, we are going to have the few laptops available in the gym so they can continue playing and challenging others. Since playing the games, students are giving me feedback about information they are learning and ask me more questions as they explore the games on higher levels. Hook, line, and sinker!!!! I had no idea this would be such a success. Thank you for providing us an engaging website for teachers to use as a resource and motivator.
2. Which one of our health games is your favorite and why?
I am challenged to name just one game as my favorite. I polled my students to tell me which game was their favorite and I got as many answers are there are games. They all had strong points as to why it is their favorite. I think that as diverse as my students are and the challenge presented to them, an argument is made that they are all good. As a teacher I feel that my students have learned valuable information from each of these games. The Pyramid Pile Up teaches them about food a group which, in my opinion, is the base fundamental lesson for understanding nutrition and daily intake requirements. The Lunch Crunch makes students realize what foods are good choices and which ones are not so good or junk. It was an eye opener for them to realize that just because often food packaging has a picture of a fruit or vegetable, but it is not always a good food choice. I like it also because the game made the students think quickly about their choice for a true fruit and vegetable. Teens make quick decisions in a food line at school and at a fast food chain, so this game will enable them to think twice about what choice they are making. Because they have learned the nutritional information about food in class, this will impact their decision making. The chain link games of Food Fury and Juice Jumble again require students to think about ingredients in food packaging. Here students learned that a drink with a fruit on the label disguises the sugar and fat %. Food Fury teaches students about foods that are Go, good choices, Slow, kind of good, and Whoa, eat only rarely Students had many “Ah-Ha” moments here as they realized some foods are not as healthy as they thought. I asked students to frequent the Brain Gain as they test themselves on their knowledge and give responses back to me about the areas they are not scoring 100%. It allows students to learn about portion sizes, and balancing a meal. From their scores, I learned what I needed to re-teach or emphasize in another lesson. Bubble Robble focuses on exercise and allows students to see what activities are cardio or low activities. Since I am a Health Fitness teacher, I am looking for ways to stress the importance of daily exercise. This has helped my students become conscious of low cardio and high cardio activities.
The game that I would be hard pressed to say is my all time favorite would be Pyramid Pile Up. The information is fundamental for learning about the food pyramid which students created their personal food pyramid for calorie and nutritional daily intake. Those learning the basics start at level one and graduate to higher challenges. As the levels progressed, students had to apply their knowledge of which foods fit into each category without hints. This is an important step in understanding food categories and will help them throughout their life as they continue to monitor their daily food intake. I liked it because I wanted to be the choppers and then have strategies with the move allowed on each level. I was able to beat the students in this game when we began the challenge, but they are much quicker than I am now. I play this game secretly each day to practice my skills and will join in with the tourney challenge when I feel I can beat them once again.
3. Why should you be selected to win a free Monster iMac?
There are many reasons why I should be selected to win a Monster iMac. Perhaps the leading reason is because I am making a the connection of health with technology by researching topics, creating projects, and creating an environment for my savvy high school students to become engaged and excited about learning. Health Fitness does use technology in the gym and I want my students to have an opportunity to use technology as this is where they spend many wasteful hours each day on games that only challenge them with scores. Giving them informative games to play engages them to learn and interests them with the challenges. Another reason to award me this iMac is because I can let students use the iMac to create videos and podcast with nutrition and fitness lessons. We are the low man on the totem pole when it comes to booking the computer lab for use. We got lucky when we used it for several days as scheduled testing that was to occur was cancelled at the last minute. In order to get to the labs, we have to book it at the beginning of the semester and even then, we are often asked to share it with another class. Having this computer will allow students to research and create projects whenever they want. Students want to create a video documentary about teen obesity and their lack of physical activity. The mac is easier to create movies than a PC and students will be able to gather material and work on it over several days. Students want to continue to challenge each other and I can set up an area for the Mac and 2 other laptops in the gym office so students can rotate around from gym activities and computer activities. It will allow me to have a great balance with my students. The Playnormous games have been so successful with my students and it allows me another avenue to reach teens and teach them about the importance of diet and exercise. I write curriculum for the district in Health Fitness and am creating a curriculum that includes technology for students on a weekly basis. The iMac will certainly allow me the advantage to do so.
4. How have Playnormous games impacted you, your classroom, or your library?
Now this is where Playnormous has made a difference for my students. Students are making personal connections with their food choices and Playnormous has contributed to their change in diet habits. I heard over and over again from students “I had no idea that was not good for me to eat. I thought it was a healthy choice” After playing the games and creating projects that tied in to the lessons learned from the games, students are making better food choices. I strive to find creative activities for students when learning about nutrition, and this site has helped me achieve this goal. Students are having conversation with each other about lessons learned and what they are changing in their diets. We prepared foods introduced in the games and will continue to set aside several days in the future to do again. We are all having conversation about trying new fruits and veggies and adding 5 a day to our diets. Students are asking their parents to prepare different veggies at home. Several students earned extra credit by making meal plans for a week and prepared them at home for their family. Students are spending time in the fruit and vegetable section of the grocery store looking for new and different foods to try. I have used to catch phrase “Get Up and Move” for 2 years and when Michelle Obama came out this month with her project called “Let Move”, students began to discuss in class the topic with great knowledge. We are looking at more ways to incorporate this lifestyle in our daily lives. These Playnormous games have reinforced making healthy choices and thus created a real awareness for my high school students. I have heard them at lunch time telling the cafeteria workers how they need to get together and make some changes in the food they are being served. I give students choices and ownership in my classes, within the guidelines of the curriculum, on what activities to play and what lessons they want to learn about in nutrition. You can guess what they are asking for now!!! I have not only created fun in the gym, but more importantly, made an impact in these teens lives with the use of Playnormous games and activities.
My high school curriculum in Health Fitness aligns with the Playnormous games and information located on the website. I am passionate about nutrition and exercise and feel that I need to present information to my students in a motivating and creative manner. Playnormous games have been the answer for me this semester!! As I searched for new and creative sites to add to my curriculum, I found Playnormous and saw that this is the piece that I needed to keep students actively engaged and reach them in a creative way that would encourage them to carry the information home. Students began by searching through the information presented on the site and then gave me feedback on the information they learned. Then the students were turned lose to play the games. They were instantly hooked and I had a hard time making them log out at the end of our 90 minute class. The following day, we discussed what they learned from the games and what areas we needed work on to gain a full understanding about the foods they were eating and their daily food intake. We also began to search for food myths as the students were stunned about the “junk food and poor choices” they thought were healthy. Students arrived to class on time as they were allowed to get on the few laptops that I have available to them and begin to play games. We made this part of our daily routine and the end of class when we have free time to play, they opted to play the games. Seeing that this was such a hit with my students, we decided that we had to have a tournament. We booked the computer lab which is very difficult to do and played for days. I knew that the information they were learning was reaching them in a creative way and most likely would remain with them longer than it would through a traditional lecture environment. Students had to be reminded that this was just a game as they became so competitive. Without my direction, students then organized a tournament during lunch time where they gathered with their laptops and challenged each other. I am thrilled that they also decided that on Fabulous Friday’s, we are going to have the few laptops available in the gym so they can continue playing and challenging others. Since playing the games, students are giving me feedback about information they are learning and ask me more questions as they explore the games on higher levels. Hook, line, and sinker!!!! I had no idea this would be such a success. Thank you for providing us an engaging website for teachers to use as a resource and motivator.
2. Which one of our health games is your favorite and why?
I am challenged to name just one game as my favorite. I polled my students to tell me which game was their favorite and I got as many answers are there are games. They all had strong points as to why it is their favorite. I think that as diverse as my students are and the challenge presented to them, an argument is made that they are all good. As a teacher I feel that my students have learned valuable information from each of these games. The Pyramid Pile Up teaches them about food a group which, in my opinion, is the base fundamental lesson for understanding nutrition and daily intake requirements. The Lunch Crunch makes students realize what foods are good choices and which ones are not so good or junk. It was an eye opener for them to realize that just because often food packaging has a picture of a fruit or vegetable, but it is not always a good food choice. I like it also because the game made the students think quickly about their choice for a true fruit and vegetable. Teens make quick decisions in a food line at school and at a fast food chain, so this game will enable them to think twice about what choice they are making. Because they have learned the nutritional information about food in class, this will impact their decision making. The chain link games of Food Fury and Juice Jumble again require students to think about ingredients in food packaging. Here students learned that a drink with a fruit on the label disguises the sugar and fat %. Food Fury teaches students about foods that are Go, good choices, Slow, kind of good, and Whoa, eat only rarely Students had many “Ah-Ha” moments here as they realized some foods are not as healthy as they thought. I asked students to frequent the Brain Gain as they test themselves on their knowledge and give responses back to me about the areas they are not scoring 100%. It allows students to learn about portion sizes, and balancing a meal. From their scores, I learned what I needed to re-teach or emphasize in another lesson. Bubble Robble focuses on exercise and allows students to see what activities are cardio or low activities. Since I am a Health Fitness teacher, I am looking for ways to stress the importance of daily exercise. This has helped my students become conscious of low cardio and high cardio activities.
The game that I would be hard pressed to say is my all time favorite would be Pyramid Pile Up. The information is fundamental for learning about the food pyramid which students created their personal food pyramid for calorie and nutritional daily intake. Those learning the basics start at level one and graduate to higher challenges. As the levels progressed, students had to apply their knowledge of which foods fit into each category without hints. This is an important step in understanding food categories and will help them throughout their life as they continue to monitor their daily food intake. I liked it because I wanted to be the choppers and then have strategies with the move allowed on each level. I was able to beat the students in this game when we began the challenge, but they are much quicker than I am now. I play this game secretly each day to practice my skills and will join in with the tourney challenge when I feel I can beat them once again.
3. Why should you be selected to win a free Monster iMac?
There are many reasons why I should be selected to win a Monster iMac. Perhaps the leading reason is because I am making a the connection of health with technology by researching topics, creating projects, and creating an environment for my savvy high school students to become engaged and excited about learning. Health Fitness does use technology in the gym and I want my students to have an opportunity to use technology as this is where they spend many wasteful hours each day on games that only challenge them with scores. Giving them informative games to play engages them to learn and interests them with the challenges. Another reason to award me this iMac is because I can let students use the iMac to create videos and podcast with nutrition and fitness lessons. We are the low man on the totem pole when it comes to booking the computer lab for use. We got lucky when we used it for several days as scheduled testing that was to occur was cancelled at the last minute. In order to get to the labs, we have to book it at the beginning of the semester and even then, we are often asked to share it with another class. Having this computer will allow students to research and create projects whenever they want. Students want to create a video documentary about teen obesity and their lack of physical activity. The mac is easier to create movies than a PC and students will be able to gather material and work on it over several days. Students want to continue to challenge each other and I can set up an area for the Mac and 2 other laptops in the gym office so students can rotate around from gym activities and computer activities. It will allow me to have a great balance with my students. The Playnormous games have been so successful with my students and it allows me another avenue to reach teens and teach them about the importance of diet and exercise. I write curriculum for the district in Health Fitness and am creating a curriculum that includes technology for students on a weekly basis. The iMac will certainly allow me the advantage to do so.
4. How have Playnormous games impacted you, your classroom, or your library?
Now this is where Playnormous has made a difference for my students. Students are making personal connections with their food choices and Playnormous has contributed to their change in diet habits. I heard over and over again from students “I had no idea that was not good for me to eat. I thought it was a healthy choice” After playing the games and creating projects that tied in to the lessons learned from the games, students are making better food choices. I strive to find creative activities for students when learning about nutrition, and this site has helped me achieve this goal. Students are having conversation with each other about lessons learned and what they are changing in their diets. We prepared foods introduced in the games and will continue to set aside several days in the future to do again. We are all having conversation about trying new fruits and veggies and adding 5 a day to our diets. Students are asking their parents to prepare different veggies at home. Several students earned extra credit by making meal plans for a week and prepared them at home for their family. Students are spending time in the fruit and vegetable section of the grocery store looking for new and different foods to try. I have used to catch phrase “Get Up and Move” for 2 years and when Michelle Obama came out this month with her project called “Let Move”, students began to discuss in class the topic with great knowledge. We are looking at more ways to incorporate this lifestyle in our daily lives. These Playnormous games have reinforced making healthy choices and thus created a real awareness for my high school students. I have heard them at lunch time telling the cafeteria workers how they need to get together and make some changes in the food they are being served. I give students choices and ownership in my classes, within the guidelines of the curriculum, on what activities to play and what lessons they want to learn about in nutrition. You can guess what they are asking for now!!! I have not only created fun in the gym, but more importantly, made an impact in these teens lives with the use of Playnormous games and activities.
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Grilling with fruits and Veggies
Does life get any better !!!!!!!
Of course, the weather changed in Houston and it is cold out, but that does not stop us.
We have been working on trying different foods and finding new ways to prepare them. What a better way than to go outdoors and grill. I pulled some good grilling recipes to give to students and then showed them some of the websites I used to get them. I want students to look up other reciipes in the future to try at home. After building the fire, students got separated into different stations as they were in charge of particular food prep. Several items were prepared such as grilled apples, bananas cooked on the coals, potatoes using several varieties, corn cooked on the coals, zucchini, squash, etc. I was thrilled to hear the students discuss that they were trying some new food for the first time and how much they were enjoying this. After all the food was finished cooking, we made a buffet line and students served an individual portion from each of the cooked items. They all had to take a no thank you bite. Several turned up their noses with the squashes, but they took a small taste and liked it. After clean up, I had students tell me what they liked about the food and give me feed back about what they were going to do at home w/ new foods.
" I liked the squash the best. Now that I know how to make them, I am going to cooked them for my family." kj
"I didn't know bananas would taste good cooked. The small amount of brown sugar and chocolate that we used did not change the calories too bad and it is a good dessert to have instead of cake or cookies." km
"I am going to find some recipes on grilling veggies and make them at home. I liked the web site for grilling recipes and want to try some of them." bc
"Grilling is fun and I want to do this at home. I think the ideas you taught us about other veggies ounds good. I like the recipes you gave us and want to find more." sh
Eggplant Parmesan
Ingredients:
· 2 egg whites
· 2 1/2 lbs eggplant, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4"-thick slices
· 1/2 cup plain dried bread crumbs
· Olive oil spray
· 1 cup tomatoes, chopped with their juice
· 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
· 1/2 tsp black pepper
· 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz)
· 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
· 4 cloves garlic
· 1/2 cup onion, chopped
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with foil. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
In a shallow dish, beat the egg whites and 2 tbsp of water until foamy. Dip eggplant into egg whites, then into bread crumbs, pressing crumbs into eggplant.
Place eggplant on prepared baking sheet and spray oil over eggplant slices. Bake 30 minutes, turning eggplant over after 20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
Sauté the onions and garlic with oil spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes and their juice, basil, salt, pepper, garlic, and onions.
Spoon 3 tbsp of tomato mixture into bottom of 9" square glass baking dish. Place half of eggplant over sauce; spoon half of remaining tomato mixture over eggplant; and sprinkle half of mozzarella on top. Repeat with remaining eggplant, tomato mixture, and mozzarella.
Sprinkle Parmesan on top and bake for 20 minutes, or until eggplant is piping hot and sauce is bubbly.
Serves 4.
Per serving: Calories 274, Fat 6g, Calories from Fat 20%, Protein 18g, Carbohydrates 35g, Cholesterol 20mg, Fiber 8g, Sodium 427mg.
Quick, Easy -N- Fast Herbed Zucchini Recipe
2 T. water 1 t. olive oil 1 medium garlic clove, crushed 1 t. dried rosemary 1/2 lb. zucchini, thinly sliced (2 C.) salt and freshly ground black pepper Preheat boiler. Line a baking tray with foil. Mix water, olive oil, garlic and rosemary together in a small bowl. Toss zucchini in mixture. Spoon zucchini and sauce in one layer on baking tray. Place in broiler about 5 inches from heat for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve
Grilled Santa Fe Vegetable Kabobs
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon McCormick Santa Fe Spice Blends
4 cups assorted vegetables, cut in 1 inch cubesCombine oil, vinegar and Spice Blends.
Toss vegetables with Spice Blends mixture. Place vegetables on skewers.
Grill or broil until crisp tender.
Vegetable Medley
Prep Time:25 min
Start to Finish:35 min
makes:8 servings
1
large onion, sliced
1
red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2
eggplant, cubed
1/2
head cauliflower, cut into florets
1
large zucchini, sliced
1
cup sliced mushrooms
1
cup salsa
1/4
cup balsamic vinegar
1
head broccoli, cut into florets
1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Pinch of ground red pepper
1.
Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add the eggplant, cauliflower, zucchini, and mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes.
2.
Stir in the salsa, vinegar, oregano, basil, and red pepper. Stir in the broccoli and cover. Cook for 12 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Season with additional oregano and basil, if desired.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 70 (Calories from Fat 0); Total Fat 0g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 160mg; Total Carbohydrate 13g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 6g); Protein 3g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 20%; Vitamin C 60%; Calcium 4%; Iron 6% Exchanges: 0 Other Carbohydrate; 2 Vegetable Carbohydrate Choices: 1 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Red Pepper Hummus
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:10 min
makes:6 servings (3 tablespoons hummus plus 4 pita chips)
Pita Chips
2
whole wheat pita (pocket) breads (6 inch)
Hummus
1
can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed
1
tablespoon lemon juice
1
tablespoon olive or canola oil
1
clove garlic, chopped
1/3
cup drained roasted red bell peppers (from a jar)
1.
Heat oven to 400°F. Split each pita bread around edge with knife to make 2 rounds. Cut each round into 6 wedges. Place in single layer on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 9 minutes or until crisp and light brown; cool.
2.
In food processor, place garbanzo beans, lemon juice, oil and garlic. Cover; process 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Add roasted peppers; process 30 to 60 seconds or until blended.
3.
Spoon hummus into serving bowl. Serve with pita chips
Gingered Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
Prep Time:40 min
Start to Finish:1 hr 20 min
makes:24 servings (2 tablespoons salsa and 3 chips each
1
tablespoon sugar
2
teaspoons ground cinnamon
4
Old El Paso® flour tortillas for burritos (8 inch; from 11-oz package)
3
tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1
cup finely diced pineapple
1
cup finely diced papaya
1
cup finely diced mango
1/4
cup chopped fresh cilantro
1
tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger
1
tablespoon lemon juice
1/8
teaspoon salt
1.
Set oven control to broil. Mix sugar and cinnamon. Brush both sides of each tortilla with butter; sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture. Cut each tortilla into 12 wedges.
2.
Place tortilla wedges in single layer in 2 ungreased 15x10x1-inch pans or on 2 cookie sheets. Broil 2 to 4 minutes, turning once, until crispy and golden brown. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
3.
In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Serve salsa with chips.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 50 (Calories from Fat 20); Total Fat 2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 75mg; Total Carbohydrate 7g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 3g); Protein 0g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0% Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1/2
Grilled Caramel Apples
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:20 min
makes:4 servings
2
large apples
1/4
cup caramel topping
1.
Heat gas or charcoal grill. Fold four 18x12-inch pieces heavy-duty foil crosswise in half; spray with cooking spray. Cut apples in half; remove cores. Cut each half into 4 wedges.
2.
Place 4 apple wedges in center of each piece of foil. Drizzle 2 tablespoons caramel topping over apple wedges on each piece of foil. Wrap foil securely around apples.
3.
Place foil packets, seam sides up, on grill. Cover grill; cook over medium-low heat 8 to 9 minutes or until apples are crisp-tender. Open packets carefully to avoid steam; caramel will be hot. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 120 (Calories from Fat 0); Total Fat 0g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 75mg; Total Carbohydrate 28g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 21g); Protein 0g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0% Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable Carbohydrate Choices: 2
Ingredients:
· 2 egg whites
· 2 1/2 lbs eggplant, peeled and cut crosswise into 1/4"-thick slices
· 1/2 cup plain dried bread crumbs
· Olive oil spray
· 1 cup tomatoes, chopped with their juice
· 1/4 cup chopped fresh basil or 1 tsp dried
· 1/2 tsp black pepper
· 1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 4 oz)
· 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese
· 4 cloves garlic
· 1/2 cup onion, chopped
Preparation:
Preheat the oven to 400°F. Line baking sheet with foil. Spray foil with nonstick cooking spray.
In a shallow dish, beat the egg whites and 2 tbsp of water until foamy. Dip eggplant into egg whites, then into bread crumbs, pressing crumbs into eggplant.
Place eggplant on prepared baking sheet and spray oil over eggplant slices. Bake 30 minutes, turning eggplant over after 20 minutes, until golden brown and cooked through.
Sauté the onions and garlic with oil spray.
In a medium bowl, stir together tomatoes and their juice, basil, salt, pepper, garlic, and onions.
Spoon 3 tbsp of tomato mixture into bottom of 9" square glass baking dish. Place half of eggplant over sauce; spoon half of remaining tomato mixture over eggplant; and sprinkle half of mozzarella on top. Repeat with remaining eggplant, tomato mixture, and mozzarella.
Sprinkle Parmesan on top and bake for 20 minutes, or until eggplant is piping hot and sauce is bubbly.
Serves 4.
Per serving: Calories 274, Fat 6g, Calories from Fat 20%, Protein 18g, Carbohydrates 35g, Cholesterol 20mg, Fiber 8g, Sodium 427mg.
Quick, Easy -N- Fast Herbed Zucchini Recipe
2 T. water 1 t. olive oil 1 medium garlic clove, crushed 1 t. dried rosemary 1/2 lb. zucchini, thinly sliced (2 C.) salt and freshly ground black pepper Preheat boiler. Line a baking tray with foil. Mix water, olive oil, garlic and rosemary together in a small bowl. Toss zucchini in mixture. Spoon zucchini and sauce in one layer on baking tray. Place in broiler about 5 inches from heat for 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper, to taste. Serve
Grilled Santa Fe Vegetable Kabobs
2 tablespoons oil
2 tablespoons vinegar
1 tablespoon McCormick Santa Fe Spice Blends
4 cups assorted vegetables, cut in 1 inch cubesCombine oil, vinegar and Spice Blends.
Toss vegetables with Spice Blends mixture. Place vegetables on skewers.
Grill or broil until crisp tender.
Vegetable Medley
Prep Time:25 min
Start to Finish:35 min
makes:8 servings
1
large onion, sliced
1
red bell pepper, finely chopped
1/2
eggplant, cubed
1/2
head cauliflower, cut into florets
1
large zucchini, sliced
1
cup sliced mushrooms
1
cup salsa
1/4
cup balsamic vinegar
1
head broccoli, cut into florets
1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4-1/2 teaspoon dried basil
Pinch of ground red pepper
1.
Heat a large skillet coated with cooking spray over medium heat. Add the onion and bell pepper and cook for 2 minutes. Add the eggplant, cauliflower, zucchini, and mushrooms and cook for 3 minutes.
2.
Stir in the salsa, vinegar, oregano, basil, and red pepper. Stir in the broccoli and cover. Cook for 12 minutes, or until the vegetables are tender. Season with additional oregano and basil, if desired.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 70 (Calories from Fat 0); Total Fat 0g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 160mg; Total Carbohydrate 13g (Dietary Fiber 4g, Sugars 6g); Protein 3g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 20%; Vitamin C 60%; Calcium 4%; Iron 6% Exchanges: 0 Other Carbohydrate; 2 Vegetable Carbohydrate Choices: 1 *Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.
Red Pepper Hummus
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:10 min
makes:6 servings (3 tablespoons hummus plus 4 pita chips)
Pita Chips
2
whole wheat pita (pocket) breads (6 inch)
Hummus
1
can (15 oz) garbanzo beans, drained, rinsed
1
tablespoon lemon juice
1
tablespoon olive or canola oil
1
clove garlic, chopped
1/3
cup drained roasted red bell peppers (from a jar)
1.
Heat oven to 400°F. Split each pita bread around edge with knife to make 2 rounds. Cut each round into 6 wedges. Place in single layer on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake about 9 minutes or until crisp and light brown; cool.
2.
In food processor, place garbanzo beans, lemon juice, oil and garlic. Cover; process 1 to 2 minutes or until smooth. Add roasted peppers; process 30 to 60 seconds or until blended.
3.
Spoon hummus into serving bowl. Serve with pita chips
Gingered Fruit Salsa with Cinnamon Chips
Prep Time:40 min
Start to Finish:1 hr 20 min
makes:24 servings (2 tablespoons salsa and 3 chips each
1
tablespoon sugar
2
teaspoons ground cinnamon
4
Old El Paso® flour tortillas for burritos (8 inch; from 11-oz package)
3
tablespoons butter or margarine, melted
1
cup finely diced pineapple
1
cup finely diced papaya
1
cup finely diced mango
1/4
cup chopped fresh cilantro
1
tablespoon finely chopped crystallized ginger
1
tablespoon lemon juice
1/8
teaspoon salt
1.
Set oven control to broil. Mix sugar and cinnamon. Brush both sides of each tortilla with butter; sprinkle with sugar-cinnamon mixture. Cut each tortilla into 12 wedges.
2.
Place tortilla wedges in single layer in 2 ungreased 15x10x1-inch pans or on 2 cookie sheets. Broil 2 to 4 minutes, turning once, until crispy and golden brown. Cool completely, about 15 minutes.
3.
In medium bowl, mix remaining ingredients. Serve salsa with chips.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 50 (Calories from Fat 20); Total Fat 2g (Saturated Fat 1g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 75mg; Total Carbohydrate 7g (Dietary Fiber 0g, Sugars 3g); Protein 0g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 4%; Vitamin C 15%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0% Exchanges: 1/2 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fat Carbohydrate Choices: 1/2
Grilled Caramel Apples
Prep Time:10 min
Start to Finish:20 min
makes:4 servings
2
large apples
1/4
cup caramel topping
1.
Heat gas or charcoal grill. Fold four 18x12-inch pieces heavy-duty foil crosswise in half; spray with cooking spray. Cut apples in half; remove cores. Cut each half into 4 wedges.
2.
Place 4 apple wedges in center of each piece of foil. Drizzle 2 tablespoons caramel topping over apple wedges on each piece of foil. Wrap foil securely around apples.
3.
Place foil packets, seam sides up, on grill. Cover grill; cook over medium-low heat 8 to 9 minutes or until apples are crisp-tender. Open packets carefully to avoid steam; caramel will be hot. Serve immediately.
Nutritional Information
1 Serving: Calories 120 (Calories from Fat 0); Total Fat 0g (Saturated Fat 0g, Trans Fat 0g); Cholesterol 0mg; Sodium 75mg; Total Carbohydrate 28g (Dietary Fiber 3g, Sugars 21g); Protein 0g Percent Daily Value*: Vitamin A 0%; Vitamin C 4%; Calcium 0%; Iron 0% Exchanges: 1 Fruit; 1 Other Carbohydrate; 0 Vegetable Carbohydrate Choices: 2
Monday, February 22, 2010
Games and more
Students created several games and activities using information about fruits and veggies.
One game, "WHO AM I," is a game where using technology, students created a badge and is then worn by another person on their back. The game is like a mixer, where students have to walk around the room and ask 1 question about fruit/veggie and then try to guess what it is. Students created this badge which includes a picutre, and information about the item such as vitamins, and other nutritional information. The students learned about different fruits and veggies and in particular the food that they had to guess.
This is a sample of another game we played in class inspired from the Playnormous games. Name the Veggie is a game that students created in power point as a slide show The objective is they guess the veggie from the clues given with the picture. As the next clue is given, another part of the picture is revealed.
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Student comments and thoughts
Students were asked to respond to questions about Playnormous as well as their thoughts and "Ah-Ha" moments they have had while learning about nutrition.
Here are some of the students comments:
" This is interesting because I am really learning about making healthy choices and using it in my daily food intake. Now that I know how many calories I burn each day from charting, I am less tempted to make bad food choices because I don't want the extra calories." ack
" I love the games. Not only is it fun, but we learn as we go. I thought all fruit drinks were healthy, but now I know what to look for on the labels." sb
"I liked the food pyramid game the best. I am learning about foods that are not so healthy and how to make better food choices" ac
"The Playnormous tournament was so fun. Some of my friends and I are still challenging each other. I have made it up the levels and learn more as I get to higher levels." kc
"I liked the lessons from Playnormous and how we add to them as they apply to us. Going to the dining hall and showing other students on the laptops what they were eating and the calories, fat, carbs, etc with food charts made me think twice before I eat some of the food." mg
"I liked the projects we did last week with the name tags. I think it makes us think about the food choices we have and which ones are better choices." mcr
"I did not know that there were so many fruit choices out there. I now go to the grocery store with my mom and tell her which fruits to get us." edc
"I think it is good to study about nutrition and exercise. The games we taught the class helped us to see what choices we can make to exercise. The good thing is that it is fun to do it with friends." cet
"At first when you showed us the Playnormous site, I thought it looked to elementary, but then we got into it and found how it works with teenagers. I liked how you took lessons and made them to our level and taught us how to make better food choices." kh
"I wasn't sure I wanted to log in my daily food intake and exercise logs when you told us we had to do it. Then after a few days, I see why you asked us to do this. I didn't know I snacked so much and now before I eat, I ask myself if I am hungry, bored, or stressed. Then I drink a glass of water before each meal and that helps me not be so hungry." jp
Here are some of the students comments:
" This is interesting because I am really learning about making healthy choices and using it in my daily food intake. Now that I know how many calories I burn each day from charting, I am less tempted to make bad food choices because I don't want the extra calories." ack
" I love the games. Not only is it fun, but we learn as we go. I thought all fruit drinks were healthy, but now I know what to look for on the labels." sb
"I liked the food pyramid game the best. I am learning about foods that are not so healthy and how to make better food choices" ac
"The Playnormous tournament was so fun. Some of my friends and I are still challenging each other. I have made it up the levels and learn more as I get to higher levels." kc
"I liked the lessons from Playnormous and how we add to them as they apply to us. Going to the dining hall and showing other students on the laptops what they were eating and the calories, fat, carbs, etc with food charts made me think twice before I eat some of the food." mg
"I liked the projects we did last week with the name tags. I think it makes us think about the food choices we have and which ones are better choices." mcr
"I did not know that there were so many fruit choices out there. I now go to the grocery store with my mom and tell her which fruits to get us." edc
"I think it is good to study about nutrition and exercise. The games we taught the class helped us to see what choices we can make to exercise. The good thing is that it is fun to do it with friends." cet
"At first when you showed us the Playnormous site, I thought it looked to elementary, but then we got into it and found how it works with teenagers. I liked how you took lessons and made them to our level and taught us how to make better food choices." kh
"I wasn't sure I wanted to log in my daily food intake and exercise logs when you told us we had to do it. Then after a few days, I see why you asked us to do this. I didn't know I snacked so much and now before I eat, I ask myself if I am hungry, bored, or stressed. Then I drink a glass of water before each meal and that helps me not be so hungry." jp
Friday, February 19, 2010
Super Projects
What a great week with the students. They have worked on several types of projects as they continue to learn about nutrition and its benefits. We created several games to play in class and then share with the middle school. Although we are in high school, a middle school is also on our campus as part of Westchester Academy. This is an opportunity for the high school students to share information to another age group and in doing so, several things are accomplished: in order to teach/talk about a subject, one has to study and prepare ahead of time...part of the learning process is repetition, so students are hearing information over and over...a testing stratagy is to have students explain or respond to a prompt, students sharing this information with others achieves all of these stratagies.
CUBE GAME:
the above work sample is a game students created with technology to enrich our nutrition study.
Students uploaded pictures of fruits and veggies to the cub pattern. Another cube is made with questions such as "what are vitamins found in this food" "How can you prepare this food"
Students cut out the cubes and placed them around a cardboard cube to give it support. Then students got with a pratner to make a team. 2 teams were assigned to a particular area and then faced off. Random cubes were placed at each face off location w/ answers. 5 mins for each round, and students rooled the dice and answered as many questions as they could. The winner moved up a spot and the loser moved down a spot. Students were rewarded with apple slices at the end of the game.
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Food Pyramid work
WORK SAMPLE OF PHOTO ALBUM- above
Students have been working on their personal food pyramid planners as they learn how to make healthy choices. We discuss the games played in the food pyramid and now we are going to do this with our food choices. They remember the "junk" food choices that they had to throw out while playing the pyramid pileup game and I am emphasising the daily 5 fruit & veggies to them after playing the serving line game. They remember there also about the "fake" fruits and veggies and that really seems to help them in making food choices now. For example, in the lunch crunch game, students learned that choices of fried okra, fruit treats, jams, etc were not considered fruits. Many students thought these were and I am glad we used this website to educate our youth about making food choices. What they are working on and will continue to do for the rest of the semester is to track their food intake and physical exercise daily. The emphasis being on fruits and veggies since most teens rarely get this in their diet. I have discussed making 1 change at a time and adding fruits and veggies to their diet is the first step. Students use the website of MyPyramid.gov to record and track this information. They already have a print out of their daily requirements at home and at school to use as reference.
MAKING ALBUMS
Students created photo albums of frutis and veggies that they are going to eat. The photo album helps remind them to get in their daily 5 as this is a struggle for the students. They used photos of items they have never tried before but will do now, as well as foods that are in season for them to eat. I feel that this a good way to help teens focus on the importance of eating fruits and veggies and this a fun and simple way to do so.
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Applying Learned lessons
After playing games and having tournaments, students have been using the Playnormous site for nutrition information. We have discussed the importance of diet and exercise as being the whole picture of good health. We have worked out of materials on the Playnormous site as well as enriched it with information from other internet sites and information from me. Students have been making personal connections with this information and are beginnning to"see the light" about the importance of diet and exercise.
The last 2 days of class and tomorrow, students got together in groups and created physical activities that were introduced during the games. They then shared with the class creative ways to perform these physical activites. Students worked in all areas of strength and flexibility as well as cardio. After presenting to the class all the ideas, the class then moved around in stations to try out the variety of activities avaliable to them. Many were amazed at their ability to perform these activities and others found their weakness as they participated. The information presented to each student will allow them to make individual choices in areas they need to work on and improve. We will add this to our class warm up time and students will graph thier improvements over the course of the semester. I can't wait to see their results and hear their thoughts.
I am assigning several projects for students to work on both at home and at school for the next couple of weeks. These activities incorporate learned nutrition information and help students to use creative activities to learn about nutrition and raise awareness about healthy food choices.
STUDENT ASSIGNMENTS:
1. I need to hear back from you on the information we have learned thus far..i.e. the games we played in the the tourney..what did you learn about food and your choices...what did you learn about the improtance of being active as part of your daily routine and how diet plays a role in it...what did you learn from the activites you created in groups... these are a few things to reflect on..Please add more about your thoughts and what you will do , if any, to change your eating habits.
2. After our class discussion about eating more fruits and vegetables each day, go to the grocery store and see what fruits and vegetables are in season. Find at least 5 from each catagoy that you are going to add to your diet. Now find one you have never tried before, take it home, and report back to me what you thought about it. Remember..we are learning to try new things.
3. Work with your group to finish up your game. Here are the instructions in case you need to refresh. Find a fruit or vegetable. Using poweer point, you are going to create a slide show that takes off a cover piece after each clue. The first picture seen is blank w/ a hint about the food, then as each clue progresses, a part of the puzzle cover is reveled to show the food. The last picture seen will be the entire picture and it's name.
Save on a memory stick or email it to me. I will upload all of these as we prepare to play our game. Give hints about the origin it is grown, nutrients found, what family it is from, etc. Make sure you have done some thorough research on your food item.
THIS WEEK AT A GLANCE:
we will work on your personal food pyramid: identify your calorie intake, the best choices to make in each catagory, and daily food intake charts. You will be charting your food intake emphasizing fruits and vegetables. At the end of the week, you will add up your calories and exercise activities to see how well you did. Remember, you are making 1 change in your eating habits and replacing it with a good habit.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Playnormous Games
Here are the links to the games so you can explore at home with an easy click. Continue playing at home...gather your siblings or friends to play with you. Challenge your friends and plan a tournament like we did at school.
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Thursday, February 11, 2010
Game Tournaments
The students loved the games this week as we went to the computer lab and played tournaments. Each student kept record of their high scores for each of the games played and then challenged someone to beat their score. The kids got so competitive that I had to remind them that it was just a game. The cool part about this is that they are learning about nutrition and fitness while playing the games. Tomorrow, we are going back to the gym and students are going to create physical activity programs from those activities shown in the games. They are going to create a 5-10 min activity and then teach it to the class.
Saturday, February 6, 2010
We are loving this
We started an intense nutrition lesson last week after covering the basic nutrition lessons that we have been studying this semester. Students made posters, and then brought in food containers of foods that they eat. We made categories for breakfast, lunch/dinner, snacks, and others. Students then rotated through stations and answered questions about each group. They then voted on the best choice. Students then went through one of the lunch periods and sat at tables with random people.
Students carried laptops and I-touches with them as well as the SBISD nutrition pamphlet that helps to break down food nutrition and calories for each food item. Boy was this an eye opener !!!! As they, went around different tables, students were able to see what food choices they had made with their lunches and what they could choose next time. Several of the comments from students was "Why are we being served foods that are so high in calories and fat" HUMMMMMM Maybe we will try to get something done about this in the future
Students carried laptops and I-touches with them as well as the SBISD nutrition pamphlet that helps to break down food nutrition and calories for each food item. Boy was this an eye opener !!!! As they, went around different tables, students were able to see what food choices they had made with their lunches and what they could choose next time. Several of the comments from students was "Why are we being served foods that are so high in calories and fat" HUMMMMMM Maybe we will try to get something done about this in the future
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Starting out with Playnormous
What a great and useful site !!! I found this as I was researching some new creative ways to enrich my nutrition classes. My high school students learn about nutrition and making smart healthy choices as it effects their overall fitness levels.
I introduced my students to this site to see if they enjoyed it and wanted to continue using it as a resource in class. After reading different materials offered, students were then allowed to play the games. They are HOOKED !!!! Students loved playing the games and found that they are not as savoy as they thought about their knowledge about all foods.
I will incorporate this site into my lessons and students will begin to complete activities and create lessons from learned skills.
I introduced my students to this site to see if they enjoyed it and wanted to continue using it as a resource in class. After reading different materials offered, students were then allowed to play the games. They are HOOKED !!!! Students loved playing the games and found that they are not as savoy as they thought about their knowledge about all foods.
I will incorporate this site into my lessons and students will begin to complete activities and create lessons from learned skills.
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