|
|
|
Devils Lake resident Jenny Steinhaus has found a way to make a living doing what she loves.
Steinhaus, who has a master's degree and is a licensed nutritionist, has developed “Nutrition in Action,” a program which promotes healthy living through music, movement, reading and fun.
Her program has been well-received in the Lake Region and is gaining popularity throughout the nation, with orders coming in from 18 different states.
Her first endeavor, an eight-lesson curriculum titled, “Music and Movement: Nutrition in Action,” included eight books, two full-length music CDs and everything a teacher requires to present the material.
“It's a 'grab and go' teaching curriculum,” she said. “I try to provide everything they would need.”
The packet includes suggested dialogue before the presentation and after, as well as activities and games to initiate with the children and what music or book goes with each activity.
“You don't need any nutrition background,” she said.
Steinhaus followed “Music and Movement,” with two single-lesson packets, one titled “Family Meal Time We Have Table Manners,” and “Handwashing: Germs Are Everywhere.”
Steinhaus said she is always working on new ideas and fun extras for the information packets.
In the hand washing lesson, students can play a round of “Simon Says Wash your Hands,” and in “Meal Time,” there are Bingo cards included for “Table Manners Bingo.”
Educators are also given iron-on transfers of place settings so they can create a tablecloth to accommodate each student in the class and children can create their own placemat to keep.
Other “extras” include printable stickers, music lyrics, recipes and printable bulletin boards for teachers.
Steinhaus is currently working on four new lessons, which will be available soon.
Her materials are currently being utilized in Four Winds School, Head Start and St. Joseph Elementary School. Steinhaus said she has discussed the plan with the Devils Lake Public Schools, and they are considering purchasing the program.
“Last week I met with the Devils Lake Public Schools elementary principals,” she said. “So they know it's out there.”
The beginning
Steinhaus earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Dakota in 2000 and a Master's Degree in Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences from North Dakota State University in 2007. She is also a Licensed Nutritionist.
She was an educator for the North Dakota State University Extension service for eight years, with a focus on education for young children. She has also served as a nutrition consultant for the past 10 years.
Steinhaus said her life changed when Lake Region State College asked her to teach a web-based nutrition class in 2009 and she decided to try developing learning materials for children aged pre-K through fifth grade.
“I worked at NDSU for eight years and developed materials to go into schools,” she said. “I found I really had a knack for doing this kind of thing.”
Landing the position with LRSC meant she could work from home and spend some time to develop those ideas.
“I had two small kids at home. I decided to jump off the deep end and see if it worked,” she said. “It did.”
Steinhaus began designing the material from home and contacted a graphic artist to create the art work. Her booklets and supplemental materials are all printed at Reslock Printing in Devils Lake.
Steinhaus admits that she doesn't have a background in business and has been learning as she goes, but her success thus far speaks volumes.
“It's wonderful,” she said. “At first it was scary — every time someone ordered
one it was like sending a child in the mail.”
But, she noted, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“What they (teachers) love the best is it's a 'grab and go,' they don't have to find a story book to go with the lesson,” she said. “And they're fun.”
Her business, Nutrition in Action, has since skyrocketed with USDA announcing this week they are partnering with her program to promote their MyPyramid Food System, and her latest materials are currently being showcased at a health convention in Anaheim, CA.
“I sincerely believe music is an under-utilized resource in nutrition and health education,” she said. “Partnering music and story time grabs children's interests and provides an outlet for children's high spirits and creative energy.”
Steinhaus and husband, Jeremy, have two children, Casia, 4 ½ and Nate, 2.
For more information about the Nutrition in Action program, visit www.NutritioninAction.org.
Devils Lake resident Jenny Steinhaus has found a way to make a living doing what she loves.
Steinhaus, who has a master's degree and is a licensed nutritionist, has developed “Nutrition in Action,” a program which promotes healthy living through music, movement, reading and fun.
Her program has been well-received in the Lake Region and is gaining popularity throughout the nation, with orders coming in from 18 different states.
Her first endeavor, an eight-lesson curriculum titled, “Music and Movement: Nutrition in Action,” included eight books, two full-length music CDs and everything a teacher requires to present the material.
“It's a 'grab and go' teaching curriculum,” she said. “I try to provide everything they would need.”
The packet includes suggested dialogue before the presentation and after, as well as activities and games to initiate with the children and what music or book goes with each activity.
“You don't need any nutrition background,” she said.
Steinhaus followed “Music and Movement,” with two single-lesson packets, one titled “Family Meal Time We Have Table Manners,” and “Handwashing: Germs Are Everywhere.”
Steinhaus said she is always working on new ideas and fun extras for the information packets.
In the hand washing lesson, students can play a round of “Simon Says Wash your Hands,” and in “Meal Time,” there are Bingo cards included for “Table Manners Bingo.”
Educators are also given iron-on transfers of place settings so they can create a tablecloth to accommodate each student in the class and children can create their own placemat to keep.
Other “extras” include printable stickers, music lyrics, recipes and printable bulletin boards for teachers.
Steinhaus is currently working on four new lessons, which will be available soon.
Her materials are currently being utilized in Four Winds School, Head Start and St. Joseph Elementary School. Steinhaus said she has discussed the plan with the Devils Lake Public Schools, and they are considering purchasing the program.
“Last week I met with the Devils Lake Public Schools elementary principals,” she said. “So they know it's out there.”
The beginning
Steinhaus earned her Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Dakota in 2000 and a Master's Degree in Health, Nutrition and Exercise Sciences from North Dakota State University in 2007. She is also a Licensed Nutritionist.
She was an educator for the North Dakota State University Extension service for eight years, with a focus on education for young children. She has also served as a nutrition consultant for the past 10 years.
Steinhaus said her life changed when Lake Region State College asked her to teach a web-based nutrition class in 2009 and she decided to try developing learning materials for children aged pre-K through fifth grade.
“I worked at NDSU for eight years and developed materials to go into schools,” she said. “I found I really had a knack for doing this kind of thing.”
Landing the position with LRSC meant she could work from home and spend some time to develop those ideas.
“I had two small kids at home. I decided to jump off the deep end and see if it worked,” she said. “It did.”
Steinhaus began designing the material from home and contacted a graphic artist to create the art work. Her booklets and supplemental materials are all printed at Reslock Printing in Devils Lake.
Steinhaus admits that she doesn't have a background in business and has been learning as she goes, but her success thus far speaks volumes.
“It's wonderful,” she said. “At first it was scary — every time someone ordered
one it was like sending a child in the mail.”
But, she noted, the response has been overwhelmingly positive.
“What they (teachers) love the best is it's a 'grab and go,' they don't have to find a story book to go with the lesson,” she said. “And they're fun.”
Her business, Nutrition in Action, has since skyrocketed with USDA announcing this week they are partnering with her program to promote their MyPyramid Food System, and her latest materials are currently being showcased at a health convention in Anaheim, CA.
“I sincerely believe music is an under-utilized resource in nutrition and health education,” she said. “Partnering music and story time grabs children's interests and provides an outlet for children's high spirits and creative energy.”
Steinhaus and husband, Jeremy, have two children, Casia, 4 ½ and Nate, 2.
For more information about the Nutrition in Action program, visit www.NutritioninAction.org.
