Pick of the Day: Get Off the SoFAS! Avoiding Solid Fats & Added Sugars (DVD)

Get Off the SoFAS! Avoiding Solid Fats & Added Sugars. DVD. 36 min. with tchr’s. guide online. Learning Seed. 2012. ISBN 978-1-55740-607-1. $99.
Gr 7 Up–The average weight of Americans has increased drastically since the 1980s, and diabetes and heart disease are on the rise. This program arms students with the information they need to make smart dietary choices. A diverse cast of young actors show how wise choices can result in better health. Pictures, graphics, and diagrams illustrate various nutritional concepts. Viewers are shown how to read and understand nutrition panels on food packaging. The first one tackles solid fats, and offers information about various types of fats, including saturated, unsaturated, and trans fats. The two types of cholesterol, HDL and LDL, are explained. Good fats are identified and viewers are shown which foods contain them. The second part covers sugar and other sweeteners. Students are shown how to avoid added sugars in their food and the advantages and disadvantages of artificial sweeteners. An online teacher’s guide offers prompts to be used before and after viewing. A graphic organizer is provided for students to record information while viewing the program, and questions are included to check comprehension. An excellent choice for high school health classes.–Lisa Hubler, Charles F. Brush High School, Lyndhurst, OH