American Heart Association and FoodCorps Design Lesson Plan Connecting Nutrition and Heart Health

American Heart Association and FoodCorps Design Lesson Plan Connecting Nutrition and Heart HealthThe American Heart Association, the world’s leading nonprofit organization focused on heart and brain health for all, and FoodCorps, the nonprofit that connects kids to healthy food in school, have teamed up to design a K-5 lesson plan that introduces the connection between nutrition and heart health.

Originally slated for last spring 2020, before the pandemic put a halt to traditional education, this pilot has been modified to be run virtually and is launching today in a number of New York City classes led by FoodCorps service members. The program aims to help students increase their understanding of how the heart works, learn why whole foods are critical for heart health, and engage with fruits and vegetables as part of an overall plan for staying healthy.

“FoodCorps is thrilled to partner with the AHA to bring heart health into our hands-on learning,” says Laura Hatch, Co-VP of Impact at FoodCorps. “Now more than ever, students need a whole-child approach to education that includes generating enthusiasm for healthy foods. We are excited to learn from our work together in New York and hope to see the program grow in the future.”

“It’s more important than ever that we teach children about healthy eating and how it impacts our heart,” says Shanon Morris, Senior Director of Community Impact at the American Heart Association in New York City. “This lesson plan teaches children that regularly eating healthy meals will make you stronger and can help you live a long, healthy life. It is vital that we empower our youth to also be leaders in their own communities when it comes to being healthy, this lesson helps promote just that. We all have a little Heart Hero in us!”