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4-H Food and Nutrition Curriculum

4-H projects can be delicious and nutritious! Nebraska 4-H Food and Nutrition Projects help youth learn about how to have the right recipe for success. Plan, prepare, and present your 4-H Food and Nutrition Projects. Check out our online catalog for Nebraska Food and Nutrition 4-H Curriculums.

For all 4-H projects, the Pick-a-Project Guide offers lots of exciting and educational projects for 4-H’ers to choose from.

Nebraska 4-H projects that focus on Healthy Lifestyle Education include the Project Activity Guides below:

 

Fast Foods!

What you can do in this project:

  • learn how to cook nutritious meals, using the MyPyramid, quickly and with few ingredients.
  • find out more about nutrition, substitutions, food equivalencies, tools and terms involved in cooking
  • explore the art of menu planning
 
fast foods
 

Food Preservation

What you can do in this project:

  • learn how to dry, freeze, can and preserve foods for future use
  • can fruits and vegetables
  • make jams and jellies
canning
 
 

Six Easy Bites

What you can do in this project:

  • learn about the MyPyramid
  • discover the basics of microwaving
  • make muffins, cookies, and quick breads
  • make your own cola
6 easy bites
 

Tasty Tidbits

 

What you can do in this project:

  • find out about sports nutrition
  • make a main dish in the oven or on the stove
  • freeze vegetables
  • understand the role of a food scientist
tasty tidbits
 

You're the Chef

What you can do in this project:

  • find out about sports nutrition
  • make a main dish in the oven or on the stove
  • freeze vegetables
  • understand the role of a food scientist
you're the chef book
 

Foodworks

What you can do in this project:

  • alter recipes to make them more nutritious
  • make a double-crusted apple pie
  • learn what to do when the freezer stops
  • make jelly and peanut butter
Food Works
 

YOUth in Motion

What you can do in this project:

  • learn about resting and working heart rates
  • discover fun ways to incorporate exercise into your daily routine
  • find out about helpings, servings, healthy drinks, and healthy snacking using the MyPyramid
youth in motion

food projects for judging

Teaching youth how to do some baking? Use these resources as teaching tools for your 4-H Baking Classes!

 

Cooking with Kids - Baking Basics

Making cookies with your child is ofter the beginnings of a new chef! View this presentation to see what really makes a cookie a culinary favorite!

That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles!

Making muffins aren't as easy as it may seem! Use this program to help teach your youth about the mystery of tunnels in the muffins and more!

Muffin Magic

Baking with Yeast

For youth learning how to bake with yeast, Baking Bun Fun can help teach 4-H'ers the science behind the cinnamon and the sugar, with a tasty treat as a reward!

Baking Bun Fun
 

4-H Foods Judging

Use this resource to understand the basics of baking and what really makes that cookie crumble when you are judging exhibits at a county fair! It's also a great teaching tool for youth.

Fairs, Fun and Food Safety!

Career Exploration

Youth interested in 4-H Foods projects may be interested in the following careers:

  • Counseling and Mental Health Services
  • Extension Educator
  • Family and Community Service
  • Food Chemist
  • Food Safety Inspector
  • Restaurant and Food/Beverage Services
  • Therapeutic Services

To see how you might fit into a foods related career, check out the University of Nebraska - Lincoln's Department of Nutrition and Health Sciences for some exciting possibilities!

4-H Food Projects at the Fair

Learn what you should do to prepare for a day at the fair.

4-H foods and nutrition exhibits have their own special safety concerns - - made the day before, brought out in the hot sun to a building in the country, tasted by a judge, and then put on display.

How do you choose the right recipe for your project?

Learn about what makes an exhibit safe to bring to the fair and what the judges use as criteria for evaluating your food project. 4-H Foods Judging Guide