Getting Started with K-12 Resources
Good health is important at any age, and teaching youth healthy habits is a great place to start! NLM and NNLM offer plenty of resources for caregivers and educators to use to support physical, mental, and socio-emotional growth. check out some NNLM resources below, or select a topic from the tabs above.
Training: check out NNLM's live and on-demand classes about health information resources and programs. If you're new to NNLM, you will need to create an NNLM account to register for classes.
Funding: NNLM offers grants annually to fund health information outreach, technology, professional development, and more! Your organization must be an NNLM Member to be eligible to apply.
Membership: If your organization is providing health information through a library, school, information center, or other organization, please consider joining our network! NNLM membership (CHECK LINK) is free and offers variety of benefits and services (LINK to member services).
Nutrition and Wellness
Delve into these web resources all about nutritional health and wellness! Learn about healthy eating, fitness and exercise, food groups, nutrition facts labels, and more with these great sites. Explore fun games and activities for kids, cool sites just for teens, and tips and information for parents, K-12 educators, and other adults. Coming straight from sources like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can be sure the information you’ll find at these links is accurate and up-to-date.
K-12 Education Standards
General resources: All ages
- MyPlate (USDA): the USDA’s MyPlate site features information on the 5 food groups that make a balanced diet. Explore tips, quizzes, recipes, and other resources for all ages and life stages.
- Food Info (FDA): the FDA is the government agency that ensures medications and food are safe. Head to their Food site to learn more about food safety and Nutrition Facts labels!
- Food and Nutrition Information Center (USDA National Agricultural Library): learn about dietary guidelines, nutrition labels, food insecurity assistance programs, and the latest nutritional science research on the National Agricultural Library’s Food and Nutrition Information Center site.
- Eatright (Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics): eatright features articles on Food, Health, and Fitness for people of all walks of life. There’s something here for everyone, whether you’re looking for tips on keeping your takeout orders healthy, special diets for different health conditions, or exercise ideas for the whole family.
- MedlinePlus Childhood Nutrition: whether you’re a kid, teen, parent, or just looking for quality health information, find tons of great reading on childhood and adolescent nutrition on MedlinePlus, a National Library of Medicine resource.
- MedlinePlus: Definition of Nutrition Terms: Find the definitions for various nutritional health related terms on MedlinePlus.
- BAM! Nutrition Facts Labels (CDC): nutrition Facts labels have undergone some changes in recent years. Use the CDC’s BAM! site to learn about these changes, and how to read these new labels to ensure your own healthy eating.
- Just Enough for You: About Food Portions (NIDDK): this webpage from the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases can help you figure out Nutrition Facts labels, serving sizes, and healthy food portions.
K-5th
- MyPlate Kids (USDA): on MyPlate Kids, kids can learn about the food groups with fun games and activity sheets. They can also become MyPlate Champions by pledging to eat healthy and exercise every day!
- Food and My World (NIEHS): the Food and My World page from the NIH’s Kids Environmental Health Sciences features fun puzzles, games, and illustrated articles on healthy eating and food safety.
- KidsHealth Nutrition & Fitness Center (Nemours): the KidsHealth Nutrition & Fitness Center is your source for articles, videos, and activities on everything from kids' nutrition, to easy recipes, to sports and exercise, to how the body works to digest food.
6th-12th
- Girlshealth.gov: Nutrition: GirlsHealth.gov from the HHS Office on Women's Health is a great place for tween and teen girls to come together to learn about the basics of nutrition and healthy eating with articles and comments from girls like you.
- MyPlate Teens (USDA): MyPlate Teens links tweens and teens to helpful resources on healthy eating and exercise, like tip sheets, fitness guides, and the free MyPlate app.
- Take Charge of Your Health: A Guide for Teenagers (NIDDK): the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases provides this teen’s guide to a healthy lifestyle, which includes healthy eating, exercise, and other healthy habits. Learn about how the body processes nutrients, what a healthy diet consists of, and get some great exercise tips here!
- TeensHealth Nutrition & Fitness Center (Nemours): head to the TeensHealth Nutrition & Fitness Center for articles, video tutorials, recipes, and Q&As on healthy living, sports and exercise, and food and nutrition.
Nutrition and Wellness
Delve into these web resources all about nutritional health and wellness! Learn about healthy eating, fitness and exercise, food groups, nutrition facts labels, and more with these great sites. Explore fun games and activities for kids, cool sites just for teens, and tips and information for parents, K-12 educators, and other adults. Coming straight from sources like the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), the US Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), you can be sure the information you’ll find at these links is accurate and up-to-date.