A Real Food Rocks! event is a full day of interactive activities that emphasize healthy eating and physical activity; and is perfect for elementary and middle school students. This event idea was adapted from the Team Nutrition Popular Events Idea Booklet to incorporate the Real Food Pyramid and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 (.pdf).
Objective
Increase awareness and skills needed to make healthy food choices.
Event
Real Food Rocks! Day is made up of a variety of fun activities that reinforce classroom nutrition education and physical education while building school spirit. Students form teams according to the food groups on the Real Food Pyramid and participate in fun activities throughout the school day.
Nutrition education activities could include:
- Eat Real Food Design Challenge
Students create posters showing their favorite foods from each of the food groups on the Real Food Pyramid. Have the planning team select the posters that best portray the “Eat Real Food” message and the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 (for example, posters where all food groups are depicted and high-quality protein food options are included along with healthy fats, dairy, fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, or where foods lower in added sugars and sodium are shown). Once these posters are selected, students can be invited to vote for their favorite. Turn the winning posters into tray liners or a calendar to remind students, families, and school staff to eat foods from each food group.
- Real Food Rocks! Student Chef Competition
Give students the opportunity to show off their cooking skills and share recipes for healthy meals made with real food, as recommended by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030. Boulder Valley School District in Boulder, Colo. hosts a student chef competition each spring to gather innovative recipe ideas. Teams of two to four middle school students create a scratch-prepared dish that must meet school nutrition standards, and the winning dish is featured on next year’s school lunch menu.
- Feed Your Brain Bowl
At the end of the day, test the nutrition knowledge of fifth and sixth graders with a game. Split students up into small teams and explain that they will compete against one another to answer questions based on what they’ve learned during the rest of Real Food Rocks! Day. Check out the Real Food Quiz Show for sample questions. For younger students, consider hosting Real Food Bingo (there are generic commercial options available, or you can create your own). Ensure that all classrooms and grades are represented in the activity.
Physical activity opportunities could include:
- Real Food Relay
Players team up into groups of five and line up together. Thirty feet from the starting line, place five open shopping bags, each labeled with a different food group name. Prepare a separate bag filled with images of various foods from each food group. (Do not include pictures of foods such as a sandwich that include more than one food group). When the relay starts, the first player in each line reaches into the picture bag and grabs one picture, running to place the picture in the correct food group bag. After successfully placing his or her picture in the right bag, each player runs back to the start and tags the hand of the next player in line. Play continues until all players have completed the relay. The team that finishes first and places its pictures in the correct food group bags wins.
After the game, talk about how eating foods from each food group is important to grow and be healthy. For example, protein foods support growing muscles and dairy provides vitamins and minerals needed for strong bones. Explain that certain foods, such as seafood, dairy, and avocados also contain healthy fats that support heart health.
- Healthy Hopscotch
Write the name of a food group in each hopscotch square. One at a time, each player throws a hopscotch marker onto a square. Before hopping, the player must name a food from that food group.
- Real Food Obstacle Course
Create stations named after healthy food choices from each food group. For example, try:
- Popcorn Pop and Hop (players hop one leg at a time through tires or hula hoops in a zigzag pattern, jumping up and down like kernels popping)
- Apples on Top (players balance red bean bag “apples” on their heads as they travel a course)
- Lettuce Leap (players hop across green spot markers decorated like lettuce leaves)
- Carton Crasher (players knock over empty milk cartons by rolling a soccer ball or kickball)
- Egg Relay (players carry an egg on a spoon between two points)
Planning
Wellness committee members, teachers (particularly physical education teachers), the school nurse, your school’s parent organization (e.g., PTA or PTO), students, the principal, and community volunteers can all contribute to planning the day. Pick a day to hold your event. Consider months when the weather is warmer for outdoor activities. If your school is year-round or if you operate a summer meals program, consider holding this event in July. Look at the school schedule and consult with the administration, school staff, and teachers to determine how many activities the school can accommodate and what times of day work well. Once you have determined which activities you want to do, assign team members to lead each one.
Gather materials and information for each event. The events you choose for Real Food Rocks! Day will inform you of the supplies you need to gather. Make a list of everything you’ll need to host a successful event, such as arts and crafts supplies, cameras, tables and chairs, and obstacle course materials (e.g., bean bags, soccer balls, kickballs, jump ropes, spoons, milk cartons, and eggs).
Generate anticipation and excitement. Assign students to wear specific colors (e.g., green, red, orange, purple, blue) on Real Food Rocks! Day. Notify students of their teams the week before the event and send out reminders for students to wear their color on Real Food Rocks! Day. You may even want to have extra T-shirts on hand for students who forget. Announce the events in advance through morning announcements, social media, and newsletters. On the day of the event, decorate with balloons and streamers and decorate the cafeteria with students’ Real Food Design Challenge art. At a designated time have students gather on the field or in the gym for a photo.
Team Up for Success
School
Display the Real Food Pyramid poster finalists from the design challenge around the school. Check out the Eat Real Food Toolkit for free posters and graphics available for download.
Classroom
Students can use class time to learn about healthy choices from each food group on the Real Food Pyramid. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2025–2030 and related resources are available at realfood.gov. Play the Real Food Quiz Show or Real Food Bingo.
Cafeteria
Display colorful signs on the cafeteria serving line that highlight the food groups represented in each menu item. Use Team Nutrition’s Today’s Lunch and Today’s Breakfast posters to display daily menu items.
Community
Ask community businesses for donations of nonfood prizes for the Design Challenge and Brain Bowl winners, such as frisbees, jump ropes, puzzles, cooking utensils, or art supplies.
Media
Share pictures or videos with short descriptions of healthy choices available on the school menu on the school’s website and social media accounts. Mention that these healthy foods will help students power up for the activities on Real Food Rocks! Day.
Home
School nutrition directors and wellness committee members can provide healthy recipes for students to bring home to their families. For ideas, consult the Institute of Child Nutrition’s Child Nutrition Recipe Box, and look for home recipes that provide six servings.
Schools in Action
In Greeley, Colo., the Greeley-Evans Weld County School District 6 makes nutrition education both fun and accessible throughout the school day with innovative programs such as smoothie bike events, school gardens, digital signage in cafeterias, and active student involvement through the Student Health Advisory Council. The smoothie bike events combine nutrition and physical activity in a fun, hands-on way, allowing participants to pedal power their own delicious smoothies made with fresh fruit, milk, and yogurt. They have become a big favorite at school and community wellness events!