Lucy helps youngsters learn about nutrition

It’s summer, and Lucy has a job to do. Her teacher has given her an assignment to pick out and learn about healthy foods. Her adventures are captured on video, and as she learns, she also is teaching young South Carolinians a thing or two about good nutrition.

Lucy is a character on a nutrition education DVD, “Lucy’s Tasty Treasures,” produced by Clemson professor Katherine Cason. The DVD won a Telly award in March for outstanding film and video.

Cason’s daughter Melissa plays the DVD’s title character and stars alongside Emory and Georgia Childress, Rosio Antunez and Mary Lewis as they learn about a variety of topics such as germs, making smoothies, harvesting corn and growing peaches.

The DVD is being used in schools across South Carolina as a tool to fight childhood obesity by teaching children about how food is grown and produced, and how to make smart food and physical activity choices.

To learn more, watch video clips, order the DVD, get recipes or play a nutrition game, visit www.clemson.edu/lucystastytreasures.

— Czerne M. Reid