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Volume 25, Number 6
“This video and guidebook are highly recommended
for all educators, nutritionists and dietitians working with parents
or children.”
“Read it before you eat it,” is just one of
the nutrition messages in this extremely creative and entertaining video.
Both kids and adults will want to watch this film again and again to
see Janey Junkfood juggle (literally) a healthful diet, watch the character
Coach (played by Barbara Storper) magically change unhealthful snacks
into healthful ones, and learn and sing songs with cast members about
good nutrition.
The film will be an excellent teaching tool, and is recommended for
children grades K-6. The video focuses on helping kids achieve balance
and variety in their diet. The storyline describes a young girl whose
unhealthful eating habits threaten her team's chances of winning a juggling
championship. Young viewers will learn, along with Janey Junkfood, why
too much fat and sugar should not be part of a healthful diet, what
food and nutrients should be included in their diet, and why maintaining
a healthful weight and exercising are important. Janey's coach and trainer
teach viewers practical skills such as reading food labels, understanding
television commercials, choosing low fat, low-sugar snacks, and preparing
a quick and nutritious breakfast.
Along with providing sound nutrition information to children, the film
will help motivate kids to change unhealthful lifestyle habits by conveying
the message that it's “hip to be fit.” MTV-style editing,
rap music and humorous graphics are effectively used to emphasize the
importance of fresh fruits and vegetables, daily exercise and eating
right. Creative food demonstrations will make viewers aware of the amount
of sugar in the average soft drink and the fat content of a bag of potato
chips and a typical fast food meal. Although dietary downfalls are pointed
out, no foods are forbidden and moderation is emphasized.
The follow-up activity guidebook that accompanies the video contains
learning objectives, discussion questions, and a variety of creative,
camera-ready activity sheets, all of which effectively supplement the
content of the video. Suggested readings and a resource list are also
included for teachers or parents wanting more information on nutrition.
This video and guidebook are highly recommended for all educators, nutritionists
and dieticians working with parents or children. The National Academy
of Television Arts and Sciences has awarded the video an Emmy for “Best
Children and Youth Special.” “Janey Junkfood’s Fresh
Adventure” would certainly get my vote!
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“A lighthearted and painless
approach to an important subject!”
With rap music, a multi-ethnic cast and expert juggling,
this video teaches children the value of a balanced diet. Janey is faced
with a lack of energy due to poor eating habits. Typical junk food is
analyzed for nutritional value and found wanting. Complex carbohydrates,
fruits and vegetables, protein (including nuts, beans, seeds, lean meats,
fish, and poultry), and low-fat dairy products are shown to be better
choices. Children are urged to cut down on fats and sugars, exercise
more, and make good choices in what they eat. This is a lesson not only
in nutrition, but in consumer skills. Advertising is analyzed for accuracy,
and children are urged to read labels and choose fresh food over processed
food for its nutritional value as well as its lack of garbage producing
packaging. Balance is the key here, just as it is in the clever juggling
sequences. Viewers are told that the occasional sweet isn’t a major
health risk, as long as they eat a balanced diet. Blackline masters
allow expansion of this video into an entire nutrition unit. A lighthearted
and painless approach to an important subject!
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Betty Lucas, M.P.H., R.D.
Child Development Center, University of Washington
Using rap, MTV-style music, and juggling, Janey Junkfood’s Fresh
Adventure is designed to help elementary school children make healthful
food choices within the context of today's culture and lifestyles. The
basic messages focus of decreasing fat and sugar; increasing fruits,
vegetables and whole grains; and staying active. Consumer skills, such
as reading food labels, analyzing television commercials, selecting
healthier fast-food items, considering environmental factors like packaging,
and creating solutions to skipping breakfast are also incorporated.
This video won an Emmy Award for Best Children's Television Special.
Clever and tangible visuals are used to show the amount of fat and sugar
in popular snack foods. A follow-up 28 page activity guide includes
discussion questions and selected activities with accompanying worksheets.
When the video was shown to several 11-year-old girls, they said the
main message was to eat less junk food and more nutritious food. They
liked the changing action and were disgusted by the amount of fat and
sugar in the foods shown.
The visual elements and sound in the video are very clear, lively and
attractive, and the activities move along smoothly. The children are
believable and their interaction quite natural.
Both videos are fun and appealing, and can be especially effective when
paired with actual snack preparation and other hands-on activities.
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