Michigan Team Nutrition Booklist - State of Michigan

Why Link Nutrition and
Physical Activity with Reading?
q Appropriate for children in grades K-2 .
q Promotes or supports one or more of
the Team Nutrition messages .
q No negative messages or illustrations
about any one food or group of foods .
If the phrase “junk food” is mentioned
at all, minimal reference is made to
“junk food .” Book retains the overall
theme: All Foods Can Fit.
INTRODUCTION . . .
There is a natural link between nutrition, physical activity, and reading . Children are particularly
interested in stories that describe or depict things that are connected to their own everyday lives such
as food, eating, gardening, grocery shopping, cooking, being active with friends, and family mealtime .
Reading books that focus on preparing and eating healthy foods and being physically active can motivate
children to adopt positive food and physical activity behaviors that can last a lifetime .
How Were the Books Chosen for This List?
Each book on this list has been reviewed using the following process and according to the criteria below,
to see that it contains accurate nutrition content and positive food and physical activity messages:
1 . Books about food, nutrition, healthy eating, and physical activity were selected for review .
2 . Books were read by the reviewers and once out loud to children .
3. Books were screened to see if they met specified criteria using the following checklist. It was
required that all boxes (see below) be checked .
q No negative messages or illustrations
about body size or body image .
q No negative messages, illustrations, or
stereotypes about other cultures or
ethnicities .
q Physical activity (if mentioned) is
referenced and depicted in a positive,
not negative, way .
UPDATED MICHIGAN TEAM NUTRITION BOOKLIST Page