MSU Extension

The organizations and programs listed below may provide more information for 4-H staff, educators and volunteers in the food, nutrition and fitness project area. This information is for educational purposes only. Reference to commercial products or trade names does not imply endorsement by MSU Extension or bias against those not mentioned.

• American Academy of Pediatrics – This site contains information dedicated to children's health topics.
• American Heart Association Children and Exercises – Visit this site to learn about heart healthy nutrition and recipes, physical activity and many other topics. (Link to Jump Rope for Heart and Hoops for Heart projects.)
• Berkeley Center for Weight and Health – The articles on this site are organized by topic and focus on children's and adolescents' nutrition, physical activity and weight.
• Fight Bac! Keep Food Safe From Bacteria – "Fight Bac!" is a public education campaign focused on safe food handling with the goal educating consumers on four simple steps they can take to fight bacteria and reduce their risk of illness. The program is sponsored by the Partnership for Food Safety Education.
• Food and Drug Administration – This federal agency regulates products such as food, human and animal drugs, medical devices and cosmetics. The agency's website links to its official magazine, FDA Consumer, which offers readers a wealth of new and in‑depth information on how to get healthy and stay healthy. It also reports on current FDA activities to ensure that the products the agency regulates are fit to use.
• Food and Nutrition Information Center – The Food and Nutrition Information Center (FNIC) at the National Agricultural Library (NAL) has been a leader in food and human nutrition information dissemination since 1971. FNIC's website provides a directory to credible, accurate, and practical resources for consumers, nutrition and health professionals, educators and government personnel. At the site you can find printable format educational materials, government reports, research papers and more.
• Healthy Youth: An Investment in Our Nation's Future – Check out this report to find out about the health challenges facing young people and learn more about programs designed to address those challenges.
• Michigan Council on Fitness and Sports – Sponsored by the Governor's Council on Fitness and Sports and the Michigan Fitness Foundation, MCFS promotes the benefits of physical activity and behavior-changing programs for physically active lifestyles to prevent chronic disease and reverse the trend toward sedentary living.
• MyPlate: Steps to a Healthier You – MyPlate is the official U.S. Department of Agriculture site aimed at helping people choose the foods and amounts that are right for them. Find detailed information on each food group, dietary guidelines, nutrition resources and Super Tracker – an online dietary and physical activity assessment tool.
• Nutrition.gov: Smart Nutrition Starts Here – Nutrition.gov provides easy access to the best food and nutrition information from across the federal government and educational institutions. It serves as a gateway to reliable information on nutrition, healthy eating, physical activity, and food safety for consumers, educators and health professionals.
• Team Nutrition USDA – Team Nutrition's goal is to improve children's lifelong eating and physical activity habits by using the principles of the Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPyramid. This site is developed and maintained by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the national headquarters for Team Nutrition.
• VERB Campaign – "VERB: It's What You Do" was a national, multicultural, social marketing campaign (2002-2006) coordinated by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). The VERB campaign encouraged young people aged 9 to 13 (tweens) to be physically active every day. The campaign combined paid advertising, marketing strategies, and partnership efforts to reach the distinct audiences of tweens and adults or other influencers.
• Wellness IN the Rockies – Wellness IN the Rockies was a community-based research, intervention and outreach project to improve health in communities in Idaho, Montana and Wyoming. The program was funded for four years and involved the University of Idaho, Montana State University, the University of Wyoming, their Extension services and other organizations.