W E LCO M E
Our mission at Brighter Bites is to create communities of health through fresh food. We are a nonprofit that delivers fruits and vegetables directly into families’ hands. We teach families how to use them and track their behavior change. We make it fun. We make it free. And we make it happen via a simple, replicable formula. P R O D U C E D I ST R I B U T I O N + N U T R I T I O N E D U C AT I O N + F U N F O O D E X P E R I E N C E
PROMOTE AWARENESS
There is widespread lack of understanding regarding how food impacts health. CREATE DEMAND
Less than half of U.S. children eat the advised amount of fruits and vegetables daily. IMPROVE HEALTH
Three out of every ten children in the U.S. are obese. INCREASE ACCESS
An estimated 10% of the U.S. population has poor access to fresh food.
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
OU R NOT-SO -S E C RE T FO RM U LA
P R OD UCE D I ST R I BUT IO N
N UTRITIO N EDU CA TION
FU N FO OD E X PE RIE NC E
Brighter Bites distributes fresh produce to Brighter Bites schools. Each family receives a variety of fruits and vegetables, weighing about 20-25 pounds and equating to approximately 50 servings of fresh produce.
We teach kids, parents, and teachers how to make the most of their produce. We provide nutrition education handbooks, plus weekly tip sheets and recipes, for everyone to use at home. We train and support teachers in their implementation of the Coordinated Approach to Child Health (CATCH), an evidence-based program that promotes healthy food choices and physical activity.
Brighter Bites staff engages with families through various digital platforms, like newsletters, text messages, web pages, our new Brighter Bites app, and social media, by sharing easy recipes, kitchen how-tos, culinary tips, and healthy topics.
E D U C ATO R ’ S R O L E
Ed u c a t o r s , yo u a re a n i r re p l a c ea b l e p a r t o f o u r p ro g r a m ! Your role in nutrition education and physical education is a huge part in true behavior change in our Brighter Bites students. Now more than ever you are our heroes for everything you do not only for the academic advancement of your students, but also because of how much you care for their overall wellbeing. That makes you one of our biggest allies to create excitement about immune-supporting foods and teaching your students the importance of eating fresh fruits and vegetables. Thank you for helping us foster an environment of health and wellness in your schools!
I T ’ S A S E A SY A S 1 , 2 , 8 ! 1 C L A SS R O O M , 2 CO M P O N E N TS , 8 E AC H !
N U T R I T I O N E D U C AT I O N L E SS O N S
8 lessons for the WHOLE YEAR
+
P R O D U C E AC T I V I T I E S
8 produce activities each semester
WHAT’S INCLUDED IN THIS GUIDE?
All the tools you need for success! CATCH ACTION PLAN
Due dates and links to your lessons for the year. PRODUCE ACTIVITES ACTION PLAN
Date reminders and links to where to find video resources and other suggestions! P.E. ACTIVITIES & MORE TOOLS FOR YOU!
Physical Education information, teacher wellness tips, recorded orientation, tracking links, news,
C ATC H
WHOLE CHILD WELLNESS FOR SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES
For over 30 years, the CATCH platform has been proven to launch kids and communities toward healthier lifestyles. CATCH Global Foundation is committed to making the many evidence-based CATCH health programs available to kids everywhere.
https://letsgo.catch.org/
CATCH Action Plan Example: BRIGHTER BITES CATCH LESSON SCHEDULE
CATCH Video Lessons Document Example:
PRE-K
Gus Goodfood Helps a Friend
All Aboard the Veggie Train!
8 LE SS
ON
7 LE SS
ON
6 LE SS
20-Jan
17-Feb
3-Mar
17-Mar
14-Apr
19-May
Singing About Let's Eat Some Singing About Rabbit, Turtle, Milk, Yogurt, GO Foods Fruits and GO Snacks and Cheese
GO Drinks
Let's Eat a GO Snack
Moving to a Beat
GO Activities Are Fun Anywhere!
Colorful Fruits
Let's GO!
Move Instead of Sit!
How GO Can Become WHOA
Heart and Lungs, Bones and Muscles
Barriers to Physical Activity
Whole Grains Amazing Fiber
Hearty and His Hearty Goes on Breakfast of the Friends Land Stars a Mission on Earth
Helping Hearty Identify GO, SLOW, and WHOA Foods
Hearty and Flash Meet Sittin' Sam
Hearty and Hearty and Dynamite Meet Dynamite Meet Food Food Fat Fat…Again
Physical Activity Means GO
Fat Facts
Take Out the Sugar!
So-o-o Much Sodium
Energy Balance GO-ing for FIT and GO Eating
Choose Your Plate
Bag a GO Lunch
How Much Sugar is in Your Favorite Drinks?
Choose It or Lose It
The Heart Is a Muscle
MyPlate
GO for Breakfast
There's More to Life Than Screens
3rd P.E. Activity
4th P.E. Activity
5th P.E. Activity
6th P.E. Activity
7th P.E. Activity
8th P.E. Activity
Roots and Jumping Jacki Stems and and Gus Goodfood Love Other Parts of Vegetables! Plants
Let's Eat Some Vegetables!
KINDER
Being Healthy is Fun!
GO Foods
1st GRADE
GO Foods, GO Activities
A Rainbow of Fruits and Vegetables
What's Missing?
Let's Eat Some Sugary WHOA Fruits and Beverages Vegetables!
2nd GRADE
A Good Balance
Healthy and Unhealthy Fats
Too Much Sugar!
Too Much Salt!
3rd GRADE
Hi There, Earthlings
4th GRADE
Ready – Set – GO for Health
5th GRADE
Let's Get GOing
6th GRADE
Food Fights
P.E.
ON
LE SS
ON
5
4 ON
3
LE SS
9-Dec
ON
11-Nov
LE SS
ON LE SS
DUE DATES
LE SS
ON
1
2
Goal: Every grade-level teacher will need to facilitate 8 CATCH Lessons during the school year. The P.E. teacher will need to conduct 8 P.E. Activities during the school year. All lessons and activities must be logged via our tracking link (track.brighterbites.org). Time will be set aside on select Wellness Wednesdays for teachers to implement and log all CATCH Lessons and P.E. Activities by each respective due date.
GO-SLOWWHOA Foods
Build-A-Meal
1st P.E. Activity 2nd P.E. Activity
The "Whole" Truth About Foods
sdgsd
Good Choices
A Very Bright Ideas for Plan of Action Breakfast Important Meal
The Brighter Bites Program Coordinator working with your campus will send regular progress reports of all lessons and activities logged. Reports will be shared with your school's administration to assist you in successful implementation of all lessons and activities. Please remember to log your lessons and activities at track.brighterbites.org in order to receive credit.
Track your CATCH lessons activity here: track.brighterbites.org
P R O D U C E AC T I V I T I E S
WHAT ARE PRODUCE ACTIVITIES?
Nutrition activities to teach in the classroom using Brighter Bites produce. These can be done in person or through distance learning by using our library of Produce Activity videos.
brighterbites.org/teacher-tools/produce-activities/
Produce Activities Action Plan Example:
Track your Produce Activites here: track.brighterbites.org
P. E . AC T I V I T I E S & M O R E TO O L S
CATCH P.E. ACTIVITIES
CATCH PE is designed to promote children’s enjoyment and participation of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) during PE classes, recess and extracurricular activities. The primary focus of CATCH PE is for schools to provide quality physical education in which students engage in maximum amounts of enjoyable MVPA during class time.
https://letsgo.catch.org/
Track your P.E. Activites here: track.brighterbites.org
TEACHER TOOLS PAGE
Visit our Teacher Tools page for all of the information you need and FAQs to help get you started! brighterbites.org/teacher-tools/ WHAT’S INCLUDED?
Teacher wellness tips, recorded orientation, tracking links, news, and more! MORE QUESTIONS?
Contact us at education@brighterbites.org FIND YOUR PROGRAM COORDINATOR
brighterbites.org/family-resources/connectwithus/ TEACHER NEWSLETTER
Stay tuned for more information all year long! STAY CONNECTED
Join the converation on social media! WWW. B R I G H TE R B I TE S .O R G
TA ST Y T I D B I TS & W H O L E S O M E H I N TS
School staff are an integral part of the Brighter Bites program. Here are some of the elements that are essential to making our partnership a success: PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION
• Brighter Bites staff, school staff, and volunteers will
distribute produce to families in a safe way, consistent with precautions for reducing the risk of the spread of the coronavirus. Distributions will continue to be flexible to ensure that we follow the latest CDC guidance for safety of all families, volunteers, and staff.
FAMILY ENROLLMENT AND ENGAGEMENT
• This year, Brighter Bites enrollment is paperless. We will have digital enrollment available for families to sign up from home. Although enrollment is rolling, we encourage families to sign up at the beginning of the year in order to get the most out of our nutrition education tips and tools throughout the year. We also have our Brighter Bites Mobile App in the Android and Apple App Stores to help families access, save, and favorite our nutrition education tools in their own profile within the app.
• Brighter Bites shares recipes, kitchen how-tos, culinary tips, and healthy topic posts and videos on Facebook and Instagram. We encourage staff to share the Fun Food Experience posts and videos with their students as well as participate in the group pages on Facebook.
NUTRITION EDUCATION
• Teachers, including Physical Education Coaches/Teachers, will be required to deliver eight CATCH lessons over the course of the year. Your Brighter Bites Program Coordinator will provide your school with an action plan to simplify leading and tracking the lessons. Teachers are oriented at the beginning of the school year on which lessons to teach and how to log them.
• Nutrition education reports will be shared with your school’s administration along the way to assist you in successful implementation of all lessons and activities.
• Teachers using the CATCH curriculum may access lessons via the online portal at CATCH.org.
• When supplies of produce boxes are available, classroom teachers will be eligible to receive Brighter Bites produce to conduct produce activities in the classroom and to enjoy at home. If produce boxes are not available for classroom use, teachers can offer a digital produce activity experience for kids through distance learning. All teachers will log their CATCH lessons, produce activities, and P.E. activities in our system at track.brighterbites.org.
• For more answers to your questions, visit our website: PROGRAMMING
• Brighter Bites programming is unique this school year due to COVID-19. We will continue to adjust as needed.
https://brighterbites.org/teacher-tools/
BRIGHTER BITES IS CHANGING BEHAVIOR Research by UTHealth shows that two years after participating in the program, an average Brighter Bites family consumes 19 additional servings of fresh fruits and vegetables over one week. “Brighter Bites made me cook things I wouldn’t have bought for fear of wasting money if my children didn’t like it.” H A P P Y PA R E N T
BRIGHTER BITES IS INCREASING FRUIT & VEGETABLE (F&V) INTAKE IN SCHOOL LUNCHES Research by UTHealth shows that Brighter Bites significantly reduces Fruit & Vegetable waste and related nutrient waste in school lunches. “We loved this program! It was great to volunteer to load bags, and such a treat to enjoy delicious, healthy food at home. It helps us discuss good choices with our kids and makes us proud of our school!” H A P P Y PA R E N T
BRIGHTER BITES IS INCREASING PARENT INVOLVEMENT IN SCHOOL
BRIGHTER BITES IS GROWING HEALTHY COMMUNITIES ACROSS THE U.S.
Research by UTHealth shows that 69% of 704 teachers surveyed agree that Brighter Bites has increased parental engagement at their school.
Since 2012, Brighter Bites has delivered more than 22 million pounds of fresh produce at more than 240 sites to over 265,000 individuals (including teachers) across multiple states.
“I am more impressed each and every week. Not only with the goal of the program, but also with the participation rate, how smoothly the distribution runs, and the dedication shown by our parent volunteers. Brighter Bites is really making a difference.”
“Thank you on behalf of the families, staff, and students. Brighter Bites is a uniting force in ensuring that our community becomes well versed on the topic of healthy eating”
H A P P Y T E AC H E R
H A P P Y P R I N C I PA L
RESOURCES
Hungry for More? Visit us online for resources, recent news, research, et celery. WWW.B R I G H TE R B I TE S .O R G
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The better we nourish, the brighter we flourish. HO USTO N · D AL LAS · AUSTI N · NEW Y ORK CI TY · W A S H INGT ON, D.C . · S OU T H WE S T F L ORIDA · S A L INA S · L OS A NGE L E S
The better we
N O U R I S H, the brighter we
F L O U R I S H.