Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation from Coursera

In this course you will find a comprehensive overlook of healthy practices in public schools in the USA, including: physical activity and nutrition in the school setting. We will review the basics of some of the regulatory programs found in the United States that support healthy students through nutrition education and nutrition programs. You will be able to explain some of the nutritional components such as, alternatives to the use of Sugar-Sweetened Beverages. Many of these principles can be applied to students in schools throughout the globe.

You will understand how the schools can support physical activity throughout the day and how they can effectively offer physical education. Learners will be able to explain MVPA, or moderate to vigorous physical activity. They will identify this as the newest method for measuring and evaluating what counts as physical activity in terms of METs. Participants in the course will be able to explain the science behind the recommended "60 minutes of Physical Activity" and what counts toward MVPA both during and outside of the school day.

Learners will be able to evaluate and explain how what students eat and how they exercise impacts student success. We will provide you with information to help you to promote the teamwork that it takes to implement successful nutritional and physical activity programs. Our discussion will include where to find and how to develop community support and encourage family participation.

Later in the course you will understand how attendance impacts student success. Together we will look at real-life examples of programs in a school setting and this will help you to recognize what impact you can have on improving the health and success of students in your own community.

What's inside

Syllabus

School Nutrition

In the following module you will learn more about school nutrition. We’ll start by better understanding the differences between nutrition and nutrition services before we learn more about nutrition standards and the historical and scientific reasoning behind them. We’ll end the module with practical ways that you can promote a positive nutritional environment in your school.

Physical Activity

In this module you will learn about physical activity in and out of school and about the physical, mental, and social benefits of physical activity. We’ll learn more about the differences in terminology and the science behind physical activity and how it relates to children’s overall health. As you’ll see in this module, physical activity is one of the greatest preventative measures regarding health problems later in life so, accordingly, we’ll learn more about how we can craft plans to encourage and support physical activity in and out of the classroom.

Home, Community, and Attendance

In this module we will learn about what communities can do to help create healthy environments in schools. We’ll specifically look at how three components of the community (individuals, businesses, and families) can be utilized to support children’s health. We’ll also discuss important facts regarding school attendance.

Healthy Eating and Active Living Programs in Action

In this module, we’ll learn more about programs that benefit children when class is not in session. We’ll learn more about the impact of health programs offered in partnership with local businesses and how they can benefit children’s health outside of the traditional classroom setting.

Good to know

Know what's good

, what to watch for

, and possible dealbreakers

Examines physical activity, which is a core topic in health and wellness

Provides clear recommendations for promoting healthy eating and living

Explores the impact of surroundings on students' overall health

Teaches the importance of attendance in academic success

Discusses the importance of nutrition in students' educational journeys

Reviews summary

Healthy habits for students

According to learners, this course offers informative and practical videos, readings, and assignments that cover nutrition, physical activity, and community health. The course is well-structured, offering clear lessons and helpful links to additional resources. Learners highly recommend this course for its engaging content, expert instructors, and emphasis on creating a healthy environment for students.

Supportive online community for discussion

"Lovely course encouraged to talk and share opinion abd experiences.Very intrsting, lots to think about and put into practice."

"I'm a teacher and I'm learning special education. I would liked to find a course, which encompasse my learnings so far but give me new knowledge."

"This component did not go to the same depth as the one on managing asthma, diabetes, seizures, allergies in the same speciality."

Well-organized videos and readings

"The course is organized effectively."

"I love how it was broken down to pieces and and very clear to understand the information with the reading materials to correspond the lessons."

"The lessons were very informative, easily understood and the presentations were attractive."

Clear explanations of complex topics

"The instructor(mam) explained everything in a very crystal clear manner."

"The presenters were very lively and it was easy to learn from them."

"Eve Kutchman is a very good Professor."

Many practical examples and assignments

"It was as if I was doing it myself."

"An extremely informative course on various government policies taken to improve the school-goin child's overall development."

"We oftentimes forget how important it is to cultivate healthy eating habits is."

Knowledgeable and engaging instructors

"This course was really helpful and understandable."

"I would liked to find a course, which encompasse my learnings so far but give me new knowledge. Luckily I found teh perfect one!"

"Many thanks to all instructors who work on that course. Lots of significate information in the course."

Engaging and informative video lectures

"I am very thankful to this course who provided me with good knowledge about healthy practices and its importance especially in the schools"

"I learn new things from this course about kids in school environment , especially nutrition, it was very useful to me."

"This course helps me to know more about the health practices . Thank you for this wonderful course."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation with these activities:

Participate in a school or community nutrition or physical activity challenge

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Creates a motivating and fun environment for improving health and wellness habits

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Find or organize a nutrition or physical activity challenge
Set personal goals and track progress
Participate actively and encourage others to join

Use an online tool to calculate the nutritional value of a meal

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Provides hands-on practice in calculating nutritional value and making healthy choices

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Choose an online tool to calculate nutritional value
Enter the ingredients and quantities of a meal or snack
Analyze the results and identify areas for improvement

Create a presentation on the importance of physical activity for students

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Helps you synthesize and communicate key concepts related to physical activity

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Gather information on the benefits of physical activity for students
Develop a presentation that is engaging and informative

Three other activities

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Show all six activities

Join a group of peers and discuss emerging trends in the field of public health nutrition

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Engages in a dialogue about contemporary topics, fostering a deeper understanding and exchange of ideas

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Identify a group of peers with shared interests
Choose a topic and prepare discussion points
Facilitate a discussion and share knowledge

Develop a plan to implement a nutrition education program in your school or community

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Provides an opportunity to apply your knowledge and skills to a real-world setting

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Identify the needs of your school or community
Research effective nutrition education programs
Develop a plan that includes goals, objectives, activities, and evaluation methods

Design a lesson plan that incorporates physical activity into a non-PE subject

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Challenges you to think creatively and develop innovative ways to promote physical activity

Browse courses on Active Learning

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Choose a non-PE subject and identify opportunities to incorporate physical activity
Develop a lesson plan that includes activities, assessments, and reflection
Share the lesson plan with a mentor or colleague for feedback

Career center

Learners who complete Healthy Practices: Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Community and Family Participation will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Physician

Physicians diagnose and treat diseases, and they often provide counseling on nutrition and exercise. This course can provide Physicians with the knowledge and skills they need to provide effective counseling on these topics, particularly to patients in school settings.

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Registered Dietitian Nutritionist

Registered Dietitian Nutritionists provide medical nutrition therapy, which is the use of nutrition to treat and prevent disease. This course can provide Registered Dietitian Nutritionists with the knowledge and skills they need to help patients to make healthy lifestyle changes.

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Health Promotion Specialist

Health Promotion Specialists plan, implement, and evaluate health promotion programs, and they often focus on nutrition and physical activity. This course can provide Health Promotion Specialists with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective in this role.

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Health Policy Analyst

Health Policy Analysts develop and evaluate policies that affect the health of populations, and they often focus on issues such as nutrition and physical activity. This course could be valuable to Health Policy Analysts who work on policies related to school health.

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Epidemiologist

Epidemiologists study the causes and distribution of diseases in populations, and they often focus on chronic diseases such as obesity and heart disease. This course can provide Epidemiologists with the knowledge and skills they need to research the impact of nutrition and exercise on health.

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Public Health Nutritionist

Public Health Nutritionists work to improve the health of populations by promoting healthy eating and exercise habits. This course can provide Public Health Nutritionists with the knowledge and skills they need to be effective in this role.

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School Administrator

School Administrators play a key role in creating a healthy school environment, and they need to be knowledgeable about nutrition and physical activity. This course can provide School Administrators with the information they need to make informed decisions about school nutrition and physical activity programs, and it can also help them to understand the impact that nutrition and exercise have on student success.

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Health and Wellness Coach

Health and Wellness Coaches help individuals to improve their overall health and well-being, and they often specialize in nutrition and exercise. This course can provide Health and Wellness Coaches with the knowledge and skills they need to help clients to make healthy lifestyle changes.

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Community Health Worker

Community Health Workers provide health education and support to individuals and families in their communities, and they play an important role in promoting healthy eating and exercise habits. This course on healthy practices in schools could be valuable to Community Health Workers who work with families and children.

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School Nurse

School Nurses provide health care to students in schools, and they play an important role in promoting healthy eating and exercise habits. A course on healthy practices in schools can help School Nurses to gain the knowledge and skills they need to be effective in this role.

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Physical Education Teacher

Physical Education Teachers help students to develop the skills, knowledge, and behaviors necessary to enjoy a healthy lifestyle. A course that covers physical activity and nutrition can help aspiring Physical Education Teachers to develop the foundation they need for teaching children about these important topics. Furthermore, this course can help Physical Education Teachers to implement successful physical activity programs in and out of the classroom.

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Dietitian

Dietitians provide nutrition counseling and advice to individuals and groups, and this course is valuable to those who wish to become Dietitians because it covers essential aspects of nutrition and physical activity. An understanding of the standards and scientific reasoning behind nutrition will be particularly relevant to aspiring Dietitians.

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Nutritionist

Like Dietitians, Nutritionists provide nutrition counseling to individuals and groups. However, they are not required to have the same level of education and training as Dietitians, and their scope of practice is more limited. This course can provide Nutritionists with valuable information about school nutrition and the impact that nutrition and exercise have on student success.

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Health Educator

Health Educators develop, implement, and evaluate health education programs. Since this course covers topics that involve promoting healthy eating and exercise habits, it may be useful for individuals who wish to work in this field. Furthermore, the section of this course that covers community support can help learners understand how to rally the community to improve student's health and success, which could be highly beneficial for Health Educators.

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