Health U.: A Nutrition Curriculum for Teenagers with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

The Health U. curriculum contains age-appropriate nutrition education materials for adolescents and young adults with mild to moderate intellectual disabilities. The goal of the Health U. program is to encourage a healthy lifestyle. The curriculum includes 10 lessons, each of which provides a short discussion where new concepts are introduced, an activity that provides hands-on learning, time to engage in movement/physical activity, and a “taste test” that encourages expansion of students’ food repertoires. Each lesson also includes a “Take-Home Ideas” sheet to encourage students to share what they have learned with their parents/caregivers. The curriculum includes both basic and more advanced activities to accommodate a wide variety of knowledge and abilities. It also includes a large on-line appendix of pictures and additional instructional materials that accompany the lessons. Instructors can mix and match activities according to their students’ needs. The curriculum is designed to be taught by registered dietitians or educators who have had college-level courses in nutrition.