ECP Awarded Second We Are Teachers Badge for “Plant-Forward and Powerful.”

ATLANTA, May 15, 2025 – The Educated Choices Program (ECP) has earned a second “Teacher Picks” badge from We Are Teachers for its free video and accompanying education package, “Plant-Forward and Powerful.” This recognition proves ECP’s ability to deliver curricula that meet the standards of experienced teachers and engage students in meaningful, real-world conversations about health, nutrition, and personal well-being.

For ECP to earn the badge, high school educator and athletic coach Patrick Danz implemented the program with his 11th-grade English Language Arts students in Michigan. The experience taught students to critically explore how food choices impact physical performance, strength, endurance, and recovery using the education package, which included a 28-minute video, guided notes, lesson plans, discussion prompts, and activities. Throughout the video, students heard from professionals, including Olympic cyclist Dotsie Bausch and professional bodybuilder Korin Sutton, who rely on plant-based nutrition to fuel their performance, demonstrating how even high-level athletes can thrive on healthy, whole foods!

Danz chose to use a hands-on activity from the education package to compare nutrition labels of conventional and plant-based foods, encouraging students to assess the nutritional values to prepare them to make informed choices when choosing what to eat.

“The students quietly reflected, but I could tell they were genuinely thinking about their current food choices,” said Danz. “They made real connections between their diet and how it affects their bodies, especially before and after physical activity.”

In addition to its relevance to health and nutrition, Danz emphasized the program’s flexibility and ease of use for educators across subjects, including physical education, science, and even coaching programs.

“It was a one-stop shop,” he shared. “The video, handouts, discussion prompts—it was all right there. I didn’t have to spend hours planning. It saved time and helped me bring a powerful conversation into the classroom.”

The real-world impact was clear. Students responded to follow-up prompts reflecting on foods they currently consume that support their performance and identified gaps in their nutrition. For many, the video and lesson sparked new interest in trying plant-based alternatives!

Danz concluded, “It’s practical, evidence-based, and connects science to students’ daily lives. Programs like this are a huge help for teachers who want to inspire healthy, informed choices.”

For a deeper look into Coach Danz’s experience with “Plant-Forward and Powerful”, check out the full blog post and video review, where he shares classroom footage, student insights, and more.

Watch “Plant-Forward and Powerful” on the ECP Video Library today. 

About Educated Choices Program

The Educated Choices Program is an award-winning 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides free food literacy education to equip students and community members with critical knowledge to improve human and planetary health. Its educational packages have been viewed by more than 3.6 million people across sixty-two countries and territories. Learn more at www.ecprogram.org.

Media Inquiries: Beth Champion, beth.champion@ecprogram.org

More information: www.ecprogram.org