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Jazzy Food and Nutrition Bulletin Board Ideas

Division of Nutrition Assistance

All Aboard the Energy Express

Directions for Design
A train with three cars representing the three energy nutrients is shown. Each car, labeled with a nutrient name, is filled with foods containing that nutrient.

Suggested Materials

Illustrations of a train engine and three train cars
Letters or pens for printing the energy nutrients on the sides of the cars
Pictures or food models of energy foods
Border of railroad track

Learning Activities

1. Identify foods containing the energy nutrients.
Instruct students to cut out pictures of foods providing carbohydrates, fats, or proteins and to place their pictures on the appropriate train cars.

2. Explain that energy is used to move the body.
Show the students various movements and explain that all movement requires energy. Energy is one of the body’s most basic needs. Energy is used for breathing, for pumping blood, and for moving. The more vigorous the exercise, the more energy required. As we go through life, our needs for energy change.

3. Discuss the body’s need for energy and that food provides the body with energy.
Relate the train engine’s need for fuel to our body’s need for fuel. Explain that our bodies need food for energy in the same way as an engine or a car needs fuel to run. Ask the following questions:

What do you put into a car to make it run? (Gasoline)
What would happen if you jumped into the car and started driving and never stopped to get gas? (Eventually the car would run out of gas)
When a car runs out of gas, can it move? (No) So, the car must have more gas to move.
What do you need to move? (Food)
Would you stop moving if you missed one meal? (No) But if you didn’t eat for a day, or for a couple of days, you probably would be tired and wouldn’t want to move very much.

If you don’t get enough food, you may not have enough energy to work and play. Energy is measured in units called calories. Nearly all foods supply calories, although the number of calories varies. Calories are not nutrients. Our bodies receive energy from three sources: carbohydrates, fats, and protein. Carbohydrates and proteins provide approximately the same amount of energy. More than twice as much energy comes from the same amount of fat.

For more bulletin board ideas:
Page 1 ~ Page 2 ~ Page 3
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