Learn how Leo Koch (age 9, Maine) chooses healthy foods, like those in his Healthy Lunchtime Challenge winning recipe for Vegan Superhero Soup, to fuel his competitive running and help manage his diabetes, in this video from WGBH. Leo leads an active life. As a type 1 diabetic, his nutritional needs demand added scrutiny. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that prevents the pancreas from producing insulin, which regulates the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. At every meal, a pump delivers insulin into Leo’s body and a monitor tracks his blood glucose level. Because the body processes nutrients in different ways, Leo analyzes foods for their protein, fat, and carbohydrate contents.

Check out the Support Materials below for Teaching Tips and a link to a customizable student handout. This resource is part of the Healthy Eating collection.