Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

ReThink Your Drink

These lessons incorporate nutrition and physical activity recommendations, discuss balancing calorie intake with physical activity levels, and limiting the consumption of soda, energy drinks, and sports drinks.

Description

The curriculum is based on the essential nutrition concepts and skills outlined in the California Health Education Content Standards and the California nutrition competencies. These lessons incorporate nutrition and physical activity recommendations from the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s and Department of Health and Human Services’ Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2010 and the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines. The guidelines emphasize the importance of balancing caloric intake with physical activity. One significant recommendation includes limiting caloric intake from soda, energy, and sports drinks—a major source of added sugar and calories in the American diet.

What’s Inside

Teacher background, lesson plans, alignment with the California Health Education Content Standards and the California nutrition competencies, student worksheets, and materials for activities are included. Tips for instructional success, guidelines, fact sheets, and feedback forms are also provided.

Activity Highlight

In lesson one, “What’s in Your Drink?” students go on a Nutrition Facts scavenger hunt at home to record information from food labels and bring their results back to class to compare the amount of sugar in products.   

  • Key Content Areas: After School, Cafeteria Connections, Integrated Subjects, MyPlate, Parent/Family Involvement, and Physical Activity

  • Originator of Resources: California Department of Public Health (CDPH), Nutrition Education Obesity Prevention

  • User of Resource: Teachers, Physical Education teachers, and Health Educators

  • Audience: Grades 9–12

  • Languages: English

  • Number of lessons: 3 lessons with multiple activities, 7 activities total

  • Amount of time per lesson: 40–105 minutes

  • Format: Hard copy and free downloadable

Resource

To access the curriculum, visit the CDPH ReThink Your Drink web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Contacts

If you have any questions, please contact the CDPH by email at NEOPB@cdph.ca.gov or visit the CDPH Contact Us web page External link opens in new window or tab..

Questions:   Nutrition Services Division | 800-952-5609
Last Reviewed: Wednesday, April 9, 2025
Related Content
Trending in Nutrition
Recently Posted in Nutrition
  • Celebrating California School Meals Photo Contest (added 18-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education’s Farm to School program is holding a photo contest. CDE welcomes photos highlighting California’s diverse school meals programs; scratch cooked, locally sourced meals; and our school nutrition professionals.
  • REQUIRED: 2025–26 FFVP Orientation Trainings (added 15-Aug-2025)
    The CDE NSD requires all 2025–26 FFVP grantees to complete the mandatory FFVP Orientation Online Training Series before implementing the FFVP. The training series must be completed by no later than Monday, September 15, 2025, at 5 p.m. PST.
  • Action Required: Excess Net Cash Resources (added 12-Aug-2025)
    Provides information to program operators about excess net cash resources, the budget agreement process, and long-term noncompliance.
  • SNP Reimbursement Rates for 2025-26 (added 12-Aug-2025)
    This web page provides the School Nutrition Programs (SNP) reimbursement rates for the 2025-26 school year.
  • 2024 Turnip the Beet Award Winners (added 12-Aug-2025)
    The California Department of Education Nutrition Services Division would like to congratulate 21 California school districts for receiving a 2024 Turnip the Beet Award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Food and Nutrition Service.