SCOTCH PLAINS/FANWOOD — Family and Consumer Science classes are popular electives for Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School (SPFHS) students, so when the instructor went on leave for a period of time, the district needed a creative teaching plan for the classes.

Human Resource Manager Adina Williamson, with the support of Science Supervisor Guida Faria, reached out to local restaurants and businesses — and while many were supportive and interested, they were entering the busy holiday season. One business, Life Hive Nutrition, and its team of Registered Dietitians was excited to step up to not only cover four weeks of classes but provide students with a unique, tasty and healthy learning experience.

“It was my dream and that of my team to work with students,” said Life Hive Nutrition Chief Executive Officer Laurie Wasserman. “The current generation of children is expected to have a shorter lifespan than their parents’ generation for the first time in history. The Life Hive team understands the importance of building a healthy foundation in kids and providing nutrition counseling from an early age to avoid unhealthy eating habits before they set in.”

Ms. Wasserman’s relationship with the Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools district started three years ago when the company held its Evolution Challenge for Educators for teachers and staff in the schools. Life Hive’s 30-day challenges combine individual counseling with community- oriented activities and incentives for a range of private and public companies, nonprofits, boards of education and schools, gyms and more.

When asked to help cover the Introduction to Foods and Advanced Foods classes at SPFHS, the thriving nutrition company was thrilled to grow the partnership with Scotch Plains-Fanwood Public Schools.

The company’s Registered Dietitians taught three classes per day for four weeks in December and January. At first, they taught lessons on micro and macro nutrition and answered student questions about working in the nutrition field.

Then, after getting permission for non-prep cooking, the Registered Dietitians paired lessons with delicious, healthy snacks.

“The students learned to cook using things they may not have expected to use,” Ms. Williamson said. “They truly benefited from the knowledge and expertise of Life Hive’s Registered Dietitians. It gave them another perspective on nutrition and health, while having fun!”

A lesson on intuitive holiday eating was paired with energy balls; a lesson on fast food was paired with green smoothies; a lesson on brain foods was paired with chocolate hummus. Finally, the students tried golden milk, an anti-inflammatory drink with turmeric, cinnamon and other spices.

“When I heard we were going to be making chocolate hummus, I didn’t know if those two things could mix,” said Owen Dimon, a junior in the Advanced Foods class. “But it was really good.”

Life Hive geared each lesson toward what the students showed interest in, Ms. Wasserman said. “These types of lessons can set the foundation for teenagers and young adults to change their futures in terms of diseases and longevity, by taking care of themselves now,” she noted.

Owen agreed, saying that while he has always enjoyed cooking and learning the proper skills in the kitchen, the lessons with Life Hive helped him better understand how his eating and cooking habits play a role in fueling his body.

“I took away from the lessons that certain foods react differently in our bodies,” he said. “For example, I learned how and why protein can be a building block for muscle.”

Superintendent Joan Mast, Ed.D., thanked Ms. Wasserman and her team at Life Hive for their interest in and dedication to SPFHS students.

“We hope to continue initiatives like this to partner with community members and business owners in Scotch Plains, Fanwood and beyond,” Dr. Mast said. “The connections and firsthand experiences that our students get from these interactions are invaluable as they prepare for education and career success beyond our district.”