Free nutrition and healthy eating programs from the Brattleboro Food Co-op!

Our program goals:

• To introduce a variety of healthy, natural and locally grown foods to school children to broaden their food experience.
• To increase students understanding about where food comes from.
• To provide students with nutrition information enabling them to make healthy food choices.

Co-op outreach instructors are experienced educators who will visit your class or program for 30-45 minutes. Most programs include a free snack. For more information or to schedule a classroom visit, contact Education & Outreach coordinator Vicky Dibe at 246-2842, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Programs are divided into 4 topics:

Our Healthy Bodies
Food Groups
Food Choices
Food & Farms

Our Healthy Bodies

Growing Bones– Students cooperatively build a life-size skeleton puzzle and learn about the role of calcium-rich foods and exercise in a growing body.

All About Digestion– Students discover what happens when we eat while following the process food goes through in a model of the digestive system.

Exploring Our Senses– Students learn how we use our senses by playing a matching and describing game with smells; experience how texture and taste combine on our taste buds; and try to distinguish between salty, sour, bitter and sweet tastes.

Eating a Rainbow– Students learn the importance of eating colorful fruits and vegetables. They make an edible rainbow snack with a variety of foods and learn how different colors of foods help different parts of the body.

Food Groups

Food Groups & Healthy Eating– Students play a matching & sorting game to learn the five food groups and how different foods provide important nutrients in our diet. We will combine a variety of foods for a healthy balanced snack.

A-maize-ing Grains– Students learn to identify whole grains in foods, discuss the benefits of eating whole grains and try a tasty whole grain snack.

Roots to Fruits: Plant Parts We Eat– Students play a game to sort the different plant parts we eat. We examine a variety of different fruits and vegetables and snack on a selection of plant parts.

Excellent Eggs– Students are introduced to the life cycle of chickens and eggs. We learn that eggs are a healthy choice for protein and play a fun matching and comparing game.

Grass to Milk– Students role play the digestive tract of a dairy cow and discover how her body processes grass to milk. Students are introduced to a variety of foods that contain calcium and learn the important role that calcium plays in building strong bones.

Food Choices

Sugar Detectives– How much sugar do you consume in a day? Students become detectives to read and interpret food labels for added sugar. They collect and compare data on grams of sugar in packaged foods while learning many new words for sugar sweeteners.

Fat Facts– Students discover the role of fat in our diet and learn why consuming too much fat is not healthy. We identify types of fat on product labels and are introduced to heart healthy foods.

As Salty as the Sea– Students read and interpret food labels for added sodium and learn about the impact of excess sodium on the body. We discuss how to limit the amount of added sodium in a healthy diet.

Food & Advertising– How do we decide what to buy? Students discuss and interpret information presented on food labels and become aware of how advertising influences our food choices. Then students design an advertisement for a real or imagined food product.

Food & Farms

Local Foods– What food is local food? Why is it important to know? Students are introduced to the variety of local food products. We discuss the economic and environmental benefits of choosing local products and enjoy eating a locally grown or produced snack.

Farm to Table– Students learn how food gets from the farm to our tables. We play a game that illustrates the difference between a local and a large-scale food system. We talk about the role of the Co-op in promoting local products.

Composting– How long does it take for an apple core to decompose? How about newspaper? Students play an interactive game on decomposition to learn about the natural recycling process of composting (with or without worms) to reduce waste and enrich the soil.

What is a Co-op?– We will play an interactive game to compare cooperation with competition. Students will learn how cooperatives support the local economy and help build community.

Co-op Store Tour & Snack– Classes are invited to come for a tour of the Co-op. Students will have a chance to peek behind the scenes and see deli chefs at work, tour the cavernous produce cooler, and admire the many cheeses from around the world. We can create a scavenger hunt to search for food groups, colors & shapes or types of products depending on your interests. Students will sample a tasty snack to conclude the visit.

For more information or to schedule a classroom visit, contact Education & Outreach coordinator Vicky Dibe at 246-2842, or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it