ONLINE NUTRITION TOOLS
"NutritionData (ND) generates nutrition facts labels and provides simplified nutritional analyses for all foods and recipes. ND also tells you what's good and bad about the foods you eat, and helps you select foods that best meet your dietary needs." Secondary students will be able to analyze their food intake when they use this online searchable database of food composition and nutrition information. Each result includes a nutrition facts panel; a calorie ratio pyramid for carbohydrates, fats, and protein; and detailed information about minerals, vitamins, and other components of the food item. The site also includes nutritional data for some fast-food restaurants and other nutrition tools. Information is based primarily on data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), supplemented by other sources.

Use NATS (Nutritional Analysis Tools and System) to analyze the nutrient content of foods. This online tool is easy to use and the nutritional feedback is impressive. First users select their age and gender, select and add the food(s) to be analyzed, and receive an analysis with nutrients that equals (and possibly surpasses) any food label available in the market.

Nutri-Facts.com is a free online resource for nutrition information on almost six thousand different foods. The USDA Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 13 has been put it into a format that anyone can use. In fact, the format is much the same as what you see on the "Nutrition Facts" label that is shown on almost all food packages in your local supermarket. The site also features a body mass index calculator and a calorie intake calculator.

HEALTH INFORMATION
Nutrition.gov serves as an online nutrition guide and a great place to find health information. It is a site packed with useful facts and links. Look for the helpful Food Pyramid in the"Food Facts" section, along with a guide to healthy eating, dietary supplements, and nutrients. There are also sections on Food Safety, Health Management, Food Assistance, Research, Lifestyle Issues, and even a little section on "Eating Right During the Holiday Season."

BAM!, the site developed by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), is designed to be a complete health-information resource for kids. Topics include fitness, smoking, dealing with peer pressure, and much more. Students can make dining decisions in the game room and access nutritional information at this site as well. In addition, pre-assessment activities, lesson plans, and activity guides are provided for teachers.

The American Dietetic Association web site offers several nutrition fact sheets, information about the food pyramid, and much more.

The American Council on Exercise claims to be the largest nonprofit fitness certification and education provider in the world. Visit the site for more information and quick facts on the Council, as well as information about their youth outreach program: Operation FitKids. There is a free media kit download available at the site as well.

The US Food and Drug Administration site features excellent information for consumers, health officials, and children. Check out the KIDS link for kid-friendly information relating to food, drugs, and safety.

Access Healthy Choices for Kids Online to read online chapters featuring nutrition information. You can also download several nutrition worksheets and a poster at this site.

The Staying Healthy: Fabulous Food site serves as a gateway to several nutrition sites.

The Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services section of the FDA site offers access to information about nutritious, healthful diets for all Americans.

NUTRITION FUN FOR
YOUNGER STUDENTS
Nutrition Explorations is a colorful site that provides teachers, food-service professionals, and parents with information and resources about nutrition, the Food Guide Pyramid, and healthful eating. The site includes lesson plans and activities for grades K-4 (check out the Food Calendar link for year-round nutritional strategies). Parents will appreciate the tips for planning and implementing a balanced diet that fits into a busy family schedule.

NUTRITION INFORMATION FOR
SECONDARY STUDENTS
The Plastic Fork Diaries site engages and educates young teens about such issues as food history, preparation, and nutritional value through an ongoing tale of lunch and life at a mythical middle school. Every link is interesting and thought provoking and the site changes weekly. Students will want to return for new recipes and to follow the "soap opera" storyline that is offered in episodes.

The Sports and Nutrition: A Winning Combination site posted by the University of Illinois is designed to help students understand how sports participation increases their food energy needs. Sections of the site discuss how diet affects performance, as well as the dangers of not following good nutritional guidelines. The site also includes recommended training table diets, questions from young athletes, tips for eating right, a planner for making wise food choices, and much more. Coaches -- this is a site you will want to share with your sports teams!

DIET GUIDES
The DietsGuide site is designed to help consumers find out the basic information on the more popular diet programs. Realizing that trying to research the programs on your own can be a time consuming task, this site offers quick reviews and basic information, plus tips on where to look for more information.

The Fast Food Fast Facts site allows students to view nutritional information so they can make wiser fast food choices.

ONLINE ACTIVITIES
Teach younger students about nutrition with the the webquest Nutrition: The Quest for Better Health. Students will help aliens get back aliens get back to their planent--Munch, as they help them learn how to eat better.

Quaker has posted an interactive Kid's Food Pyramid available online. Students can input the food they have eaten and see how it fits in the food pyramid. They can then print out the pyramid along with suggestions for howthey can improve their diet.

Students will find three interactive online activities at the Nutrition Cafe: Nutrition Sleuth, Grab a Grape, and Have-a-bite Cafe.The Powerful Girls, Powerful Bones website features several interactive games and quizzes students can play to learn more about the importance of calcium in your diet.

Kidnetic.com is an exciting, fun, and informative site
aimed at helping kids eat healthy and stay active. There are several links to online games and activities.

The Dole 5 site does an excellent job of encouraging elementary school children to eat their fruits and vegetables every day for good health. The interactive Kid's section of this site makes nutrition fun, with songs and videos that encourage students to eat fruits and vegetables. The Teacher section includes cross-curricular lesson plans, curriculum standards, background information, suggestions for using the kids' pages, and much more.

The Why Milk? site features good nutritional information and interactive games for students.