Plant-Forward and Powerful by the Educated Choices Program makes it easy for teachers to teach nutrition lesson plans and to bring important conversations about nutrition, wellness, and plant-based eating into the classroom. With engaging video, ready-to-use lesson plans, and interactive activities, this free program helps students explore the connection between food and physical performance in a meaningful way.
To see how it plays out in a high school setting, we asked Michigan educator and coach Patrick Danz to try out the Plant-Forward and Powerful program with his junior English students. Here’s his Teacher Picks review—and why he recommends this program for other educators looking to spark real-world conversations about healthy choices.
What grade level did you use Plant-Forward and Powerful with, and what ages do you think this product is best suited for?
I used the Plant-Forward and Powerful materials with my ELA 11 students (juniors). I think this program is appropriate for older grades. It seems like something a teacher could seamlessly incorporate into a health class, physical education class, or anything related to coaching.
How did you use Plant-Forward and Powerful in your classroom?
I followed one of the outlined lesson plans, and I added the nutrition-label activity as a follow-up to the video. I began the lesson by having students respond to a few prompts (individually on Google Classroom) in hopes of generating some class discussion. These are the questions I used:
- What foods do you think are best for fueling the physical performances of athletes and other active individuals?
- Have you ever noticed if the types of foods you eat before exercising influence how your body feels during or after physical activity? How so?
- Can fruits, vegetables, and other plant foods enhance endurance and strength?
Then, I showed the 28-minute video. I distributed the guided reading notes, instructing the students to complete the notes while watching. Lastly, I set up various stations around the room with pairs of nutrition labels. I used macaroni and cheese, baked beans, and popcorn. I found “standard” versions of each product with real cheese, meat, and butter. Then I found a plant-based version and used these pairs for the activity. The students were able to circulate the room and compare the products at each station. I made my own set of charts for students to use for collecting data. The next day in class, we had a brief discussion about their findings.
How did your students react to Plant-Forward and Powerful?
As a whole, the class was relatively quiet, but it certainly encouraged them to think about their current dietary choices. I used several of the follow-up questions to get their reaction to the video, specifically in terms of recognizing the foods they’re already eating and how they benefit one’s health. I also gave them the opportunity to comment on the foods they haven’t yet tried but might be willing to, especially after realizing their nutritional value.
How would you sum up your overall experience with this program?
Overall, I found the program to be quite user-friendly. The main page housed the video and all related resources. I was able to print handouts and lesson plans right from the site. I didn’t feel like it required too much prep on my end, which is always a good thing. Lesson plan prep is time-consuming, but this platform served as a one-stop shop.
Was it easy to use and find?
Absolutely. All of the sections and resources were labeled and easy to find. Some websites are difficult to navigate, and it’s not always clear where the resources are, but I found this to be quite easy. Plant-Forward and Powerful was user-friendly, for sure.
What was your favorite thing about Plant-Forward and Powerful?
I thought the video was well done. I loved the information graphics and diagrams that appeared on the screen during the narration. Those are wonderful for visual learners. Additionally, I liked how there were several lesson plans available (several days’ worth), as well as an assortment of activities that one could either add on or use to extend the lesson.
What makes Plant-Forward and Powerful stand out?
It’s real and applicable. There’s science behind how our food intake impacts our body and its ability to perform. I think students feel frustrated when they perceive course content as impractical. If they don’t see any relevance or opportunity for real-world application, I think it’s easy for them to become dismissive and apathetic.
How does this save you time or make teaching easier?
Lesson planning is time-consuming: developing attention-getters, identifying appropriate text, designing activities, creating opportunities for group work, making closing activities, etc. It requires time, so a platform like Plant-Forward and Powerful simplifies that entire process.
Did your students have any aha moments, and if so, what were they?
When I reviewed some of their typed responses to the prompts, it was nice to see how students applied the information from the video to their own situations. They were able to comment on what they were already eating that the video highlighted as excellent, but it also afforded them the opportunity to examine their deficiencies when it comes to vitamins or other nutrients. Again, the real-world, practical application here is critical.
How do you think it’ll make students look at plant-based foods differently in the future?
I think meat is a staple for many of my students, but this program makes a strong case for the value of plant-based foods. I think balance and moderation are important when it comes to dietary needs, whether you’re talking about fats, proteins, or vitamins, etc.
Making healthy choices is a personal responsibility, and I think hearing from accomplished athletes is a great endorsement for what a plant-forward diet can help one achieve. It’s “food for thought,” at least, I like to say. Honestly, I see quite a few students drinking energy drinks and consuming a lot of sugar, so I think a dose of reality is always helpful.
Is there anything else you’d like us to know about your experience or overall thoughts about this program?
Overall, I thought the program was easy to implement. I felt it was packaged and arranged in a very user-friendly way. It was easy to locate materials. I like that it was designed with starters (attention-getters), main text items, and then opportunities to make applications and reflect.
This is one of many lessons available through Educated Choices—check out their entire library of offerings. Also check out Patrick’s full video review below.
Teacher Picks is a sponsored program available from We Are Teachers. All opinions shared in the review are honest and based on the teacher’s direct experience. To learn more about our guidelines and review process, click here.