STEP 1 - Get a team together. Friends, cousins, brothers, sisters, mom, dad.....doesn't matter.
STEP 2 - Choose a KID color and print out a SCORECARD.
STEP 3 - Print out a SPECIAL EVENTS worksheet. Decide on a reward to be given at the end of the first four-week period. Rewards can be simple e.g., going to a movie or a new T-shirt. If possible, make it an event team members can participate in together. Set a target date and stick to it.
STEP 4 - Determine daily nutritional requirements. If you're clueless, as most of us are, it's easy using the USDA "MyPlate Plan". This is the coolest thing. Here's how.....
Enter your child's age, gender and activity level. (Ages 9 and above will be asked to provide height and weight information.) Click on "Calories". The "MyPlate Plan" will provide you a colorful chart indicating the daily recommended amount for each food group.
Or.....consult a physician, nutritionist or trusted health professional to obtain this information. The point is, daily nutritional goals must be established.
STEP 5 - Get our your SCORECARDS. Write in the day. Using the information obtained in STEP 4, add the number of servings beside each food category. Include your child in the process to encourage ownership and generate enthusiasm.
STEP 6 - At the end of the day, record your meals on your SCORECARD. Color one KID for each serving consumed in the corresponding food group. Below is a sample day:
Did you notice the SHAKE-IT-UP box? If you were physically active during the day, fill in the YES box. That's a good thing. Consider your daily movement when rating your day. We've included a list of ideas on how to SHAKE-IT-UP on the WORKSHEETS page.
Finally, rate the day. The example above could be rated PRETTY GOOD or VERY GOOD.
This is not an exact science.....keep it simple.
Post the completed SCORECARD on the fridge for all to see. This keeps your child focused and promotes a sense of accomplishment.
STEP 7- At the end of the week, team members color in their KID on the SPECIAL EVENTS sheet. Oh yea.....we're doing this! When all KIDS are colored in, it's time to receive the reward.
