Serving Size

Today as my sister and I were on the treadmill, we started discussing some of our different teaching experiences (she taught Social Sciences for several years). I was reminded of a time when one of my students had an "Ah-ha" moment.

She was the Student Body President, a senior, AP Student, and was for some reason in my sophomore class. Usually, seniors were only in my sophomore class because they had failed health as a sophomore. Although I didn't know her, most people can pretty much figure out from Day 1 that the Student Body President probably didn't fail health. I asked her on the first day of school,
Me: Why are you taking this class?
Student: I don't know...it just kind of looked interesting
Me: Alright, but most of the health stuff will be a review for you
Student: Oh, it's okay!
This class was not just a regular health class, it also explored a variety of health careers...plus it was easy. I totally loaded my schedule senior year with easy classes, so while I liked to hope that she really did want to learn about health careers, I could read between the lines on that one.

Later on in the year we began our Nutrition Unit. One activity I would do with the kids was to (1) learn how to use the food labels on the back of food products (2) look at the food labels on foods that they actually eat to see how they were doing nutrition wise. One of the biggest mistakes people (not just teenagers, people of all ages) make is that they do not understand serving sizes. For example, most ice cream has a serving size of 1/2 cup...when was the last time you had only a 1/2 cup of ice cream? I can't help but throw this in...

So this was always a very eye-opening experience for the kids. (Side note: if you keep track of the sodium you intake, your mind = blown!). This same student came up to me a few weeks after we had this lesson,

Student: Nelson, I need to tell you something.

Not usually how teachers like to start conversations...I've had that turn into "I'm pregnant" one too many times!

Me: What's up?

Student: You know how we did that food label thing? Well I used to eat, like, two peanut-butter and jelly sandwiches a day, because, you know, that's not that bad right? Well since we did that activity I realized how much I was eating...and how much I wasn't using those calories. So I just stopped eating them so much. I've lost 10 lbs! 

Aww, to be young with crazy good metabolism :)

I can guarantee, my intent was never to have my students lose weight. However, I was all about CHOICES! Taking what I taught them and using it for their own good. Like I said before, this was definitely a well above average student, about to enter college. This concept escapes many of us! For many people, they work out non-stop and the weight still doesn't seem to come off. A lot of that comes down to your serving size. Like the video suggests, Fig Newtons are most definitely a health alternative to other cake and cookies, but eating them by the sleeve isn't going to get you anywhere! Serving sizes don't have to be a scary thing, either. It's one small adjustment you can make. It can take you from the feeling that you can "never eat what you want to," to eating what you want, just in moderation. 

Do you ever look at food labels? Do you like to? Or does it just depress you? :)

I don't do it all the time. I go through stages where I'm awesome about eating right and then when I'm not. Usually I do after a not so good binge to help me be where I want to be.

I do look at them for what J eats though!

What has helped you with your serving sizes?

Do you have questions about nutrition or eating right?