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Jazzy Food and Nutrition Bulletin Board Ideas

Division of Nutrition Assistance

Jazz Up Your Diet

Directions for Design
An assortment of Louisiana foods and musical notes are shown coming from a musical horn. Masks are displayed in the corners.

Suggested Materials

Trace the graphic elements provided, including fruits and vegetables coming from a musical horn. When stuffed from behind, the horn achieves a 3-D effect.
Use pre-cut lettering or pens to make the letters.
Musical notes and masks make up the border.
The optional use of real beads and masks will further enhance the 3-D effect.

Learning Activities

1. Tradition of the King Cake
Louisianians love parties. Serving King’s Cake, le gateaux des rois, during Mardi Gras season is a tradition. Made of rich yeast dough, it is shaped into a ring and decorated with carnival colors… green, purple, and gold. In the past, a single bean or pecan half was placed inside the dough. Whoever found the bean was declared the King or Queen of the Twelfth Night Celebration. Today, the tradition is that the person who finds the small plastic baby doll in his or her piece of cake will host the next party and serve another King cake. Starting the Twelfth Day after Christmas, King cake parties continue until Mardi Gras, the day before Lent begins. King Cake is located in the tip of the Food Guide Pyramid. It contains lots of sugar and fat, so it should be eaten in small amounts and not often.

2. Jazzing up your diet
New Orleans is famous for jazz, a type of music. “Jazz up” means to liven up or make interesting. Ask students to name as many different foods as possible in each of the food groups. Note that fruits and vegetables are colorful and can “jazz up” a plate. Do the students get stuck in a rut eating the same foods day after day, week after week? Instruct students to work in teams to discuss ways to add variety and interest to their diets. Ask each team to report to the class. Make a list of all of the suggestions and post them in the cafeteria or classroom.

3. Cafeteria connection
Feature the Mardi Gras colors – purple, green, and gold – in foods and decorations. Serve King cake or have purple, green, and gold week. Serve foods that are purple, green or gold. Suggestions include the following:

purple – grapes, purple gelatin with fruit
green – beans, peas, kiwi, grapes, broccoli
gold – bananas, pineapple, corn

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