School Programs
DINE in Schools
The DINE in Schools program serves the elementary and middle school communities in Durham County through interactive nutrition classes, cooking-based nutrition lessons, school wellness programs, afterschool programming, and initiatives to help schools support health and wellness.
School Team Guiding Principles
At DINE, our philosophy regarding nutrition education involves positive messaging and encouragement, exposure to new foods, and celebrating our diverse community.
- We teach that being healthy is about what we do and how we feel, and not about the size and shape of our body.
- We don’t label any food as good or bad. All foods can be a part of a healthy, happy life.
- We encourage students to taste new foods, but never force them.
- We support and promote school meals. Many students rely on these nutritious meals as an important part of their diet.
Elementary School Program
DINE provides nutrition education in elementary schools throughout Durham County.
Nutrition Curriculum
A core component of the DINE elementary school program is a 3-7 lesson series curriculum custom-designed to meet the needs of the Durham community. The curriculum includes grade-appropriate lessons based on the dietary guidelines and MyPlate.
Lessons may include:
- Taste tests: Offered with the goal of introducing students to new, healthy foods.
- Educational reinforcements: Items such as kids’ cooking magazines, water bottles, aprons, and measuring cups given to students to reinforce messages and skills taught during lessons.
- Student and parent handouts: Information, recipes, and activity sheets to reinforce lesson messages.
- Cooking labs: One of the best ways to get children excited about healthy eating is to teach them to cook. Hands-on culinary classes incorporate nutrition, cooking, and harvesting from the garden to provide students with skills and knowledge to last a lifetime.
Afterschool Programs
DINE afterschool programming with elementary school students typically includes nutrition education, physical activity, and a taste test or hands-on cooking.
Middle School Program
DINE provides nutrition education in middle schools throughout Durham County.
Nutrition Curriculum
A core component of the DINE middle school program is a 3-4 lesson series curriculum custom-designed to meet the needs of the Durham community. The curriculum includes grade-appropriate lessons based on the dietary guidelines and MyPlate and is designed to fit within middle school Health/PE or Science classes.
Lessons may include:
- Taste tests: Offered with the goal of introducing students to new, healthy foods.
- Student and parent handouts: Information, recipes, and activity sheets to reinforce lesson messages.
- Cooking labs: One of the best ways to get teens excited about healthy eating is to teach them to cook. Hands-on culinary classes incorporate nutrition, cooking, and harvesting from the garden to provide students with skills and knowledge to last a lifetime.
Afterschool Programs
DINE afterschool programming with middle school students typically includes nutrition education, physical activity, and a taste test. Hands-on cooking workshops are also provided, in which students focus on culinary skills such as measuring techniques, knife skills, and how to follow a recipe, while making delicious healthy dishes.
Healthy School Environments Program
DINE helps bring about changes to the school environment that improve access to nutritious foods and increase opportunities for physical activity and outdoor learning. DINE collaboratively works with administration, teachers, staff, families, and students to identify initiatives that address school and community needs. Each school initiative is unique and tailored specifically to meet the needs of the school community.
Services to help schools meet their wellness goals may include:
- School health environment assessments and guidance
- School garden support
- School meal promotion
- Parent and family workshops
- Teacher training
- Afterschool program wellness support
- Wellness resources, handouts, and educational reinforcements
