Minnesota Operation: Military KidsExtension > Youth Development > Minnesota 4-H > Projects > Healthy Living > Food & Nutrition
Food & Nutrition Project
Everyone eats, but not everyone makes healthy eating choices. Learn how to pick healthy foods, prepare nutritious meals, and make smart food purchases. Discover the science behind making food and keeping it safe. Explore careers related to food and nutrition.
State & regional events
To view county or local club events, visit the county website.
Minnesota State Fair
4-H plays a pivotal role in youth development and public education at the Minnesota State Fair. Over 7,000 4-H youth have the opportunity to interact with the public and educate fairgoers through 4-H exhibits, demonstrations, performances, and 4-H promotion. More info.
Food & Nutrition Project resources
Beginning to learn about food & nutrition:
- Six Easy Bites - Level A ($4.50 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
Some experience with this project:
- Tasty Tidbits - Level B ($4.50 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
- You're The Chef - Level C ($4.50 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
- Microwave Magic C - Amazing Rays ($3.95 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
Looking for a challenge:
- Foodworks - Level D ($4.50 (56 pages) Find this in the 4-H Mall)
- Microwave - Presto Meals($3.95 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
- Fast Foods! - Manual $11.95
- Fast Foods! - CD ROM $9.95
- Fast Foods! - Manual & CD ROM $14.95
- Foods, culture and reading ($12.50)
Food review or cook-off
Each county incorporates in their program food review. Food review has three components: preparing and presenting a dish, participating in an interview, and recording project experiences. Cook-off experiences may be offered in a county or region.
Note for baked product competitions: Fillings, frosting, glazing, pie filling, and meringue, whether uncooked or cooked, may not contain cream cheese, whipped cream, unpasteurized milk or eggs/egg whites (pasteurized eggs or eggs cooked to 160°F may be used). Home-canned fruits, vegetables, or meats are not permitted either. Recipes must be provided that show which ingredients were used in each part of the product. Contestants should carefully wash their hands and make sure that their hands do not have any open cuts before preparing foods. Whenever possible, baked products should be transported and stored in chilled coolers (41°F).
Project leader resources
- Microwave Magic (Set of 5)($19.95 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
- Microwave Helper's Guide ($3.95 Find this in the 4-H Mall)
Presidential Active Lifestyle Award Challenge (PALA)
Other online resources
4-H Youth record keeping
Project evaluation
- Food & nutrition evaluation sheet (88 K PDF)
- Food review evaluation sheet (41 K PDF)
- Food preservation evaluation sheet (43 K PDF)
