N UTRITION :
T HE F IVE F OOD G ROUPS
L ESSON P LAN
This lesson is intended for 3rd and 4th grade
students
Students will learn about each of the five food
groups and will understand the importance of
balanced nutrition and exercise.
Students will be assessed at the end of the
lesson through a pencil and paper test.
T HE F OOD P YRAMID
MyPyramid.gov
T HE F IVE F OOD G ROUPS
The Grain Group
The Vegetable Group
The Fruit Group
The Milk Group
The Meat and Beans Group
Oils – Others Group
T HE G RAIN G ROUP
Foods in the Grain Group are divided into 2
groups:
Whole Grains
They contain the entire grain kernel.
Whole wheat flour, oatmeal, brown rice
Refined Grains
They have been milled to remove the bran and
germ to create a finer texture.
White flour, white bread, white rice
G RAIN G ROUP F OODS
Rice, Oatmeal, Pasta, Bread, Cereals, Tortillas,
Pitas, Crackers, Pretzels
You need approximately 5 ounces a day
1 ounce equals:
1 slice of bread
½ cup of oatmeal
1 cup cold cereal
W HY DO WE NEED GRAINS ?
Most have complex carbohydrates that give us
ENERGY!
Enriched grains have Vitamin B and Iron
These also give you ENERGY!
T HE V EGETABLE G ROUP
Servings can come from 5 subgroups:
any vegetable or 100%
vegetable juice Dark Green
Broccoli, Spinach
Orange
Carrots, Pumpkin, Sweet
Potatoes
Dry Beans and Peas
Black, Pinto and Kidney Beans
Starchy
Corn, Potatoes
Others
Artichokes, Beets, Tomatoes
V EGETABLE G ROUP
You need 2 to 2 ½ cups of vegetables
Vegetables help :
Reduce the risk for Diabetes
Give you potassium to prevent bone loss
Foliate helps the body form red blood cells.
Vitamin A keeps eyes and skin healthy ,and helps
to protect against infections.
T HE F RUIT G ROUP
Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the fruit
group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and
may be whole, cut-up, or pureed.
F RUITS
You need 1 ½ cups of fruit each day
Fruits include:
Apples
Bananas
Melons
Berries
Oranges
F RUIT …
Is a source of many vitamins (especially Vitamin C)
Helps our body heal cuts and bruises
Keeps teeth and gums healthy
Maintains healthy blood pressure
T HE M ILK G ROUP
All liquid milk products and many foods made
from milk are considered part of this food group.
Foods made from milk that retain their calcium
content are part of the group. Foods made from
milk that have little to no calcium, such as cream
cheese, cream, and butter, are not. Most milk
group choices should be fat-free or low-fat.
M ILK F OODS
You need 3 cups of milk a day
Milk group foods include:
Pudding
Yogurt
Milk
Cheese
M ILK H ELPS …
Build strong bones and teeth
Calcium
Maintain a healthy blood pressure
Potassium
T HE M EAT AND B EANS
G ROUP
All foods made from meat, poultry, fish, dry
beans or peas, eggs, nuts, and seeds are
considered part of this group. Dry beans and
peas are part of this group as well as the
vegetable group.
M EAT G ROUP
You need 5 ounces a day Groups:
1 ounce = Meat – pork, beef, ham
1 egg Poultry – chicken, turkey
1 Tbsp peanut butter
Eggs
1 ounce meat
Nuts and Seeds – almonds,
A small handful of nuts cashews, peanut butter
Dry Beans and Peas – tofu,
lentils, bean burgers
Fish – shell, fin, canned
M EAT G IVES US …
Protein
Building blocks for bones, muscles, cartilage, skin,
and blood.
Vitamin B
Helps the body release energy, helps the function
of the nervous system, aids in the formation of
red blood cells, and helps build tissues.
Vitamin E, Iron and Zinc
O ILS
Liquid at room temperature
Vegetable oil
Solid Fats
Butter
Also found in nuts, fish, salad dressing
Serving size is 5 Tsp
O ILS
In moderation
Usually get enough from your normal daily diet
Oils do build fats
They help absorb vitamins
Insulate the nervous system
Help fuel the body
W HAT FOOD GROUP DOES
PEANUT BUTTER BELONG TO ?
1. Grain
2. Vegetable
3. Fruit
4. Meat and Beans
5. Milk
W HAT GROUP HELPS US TO
HEAL CUTS AND BRUISES ?
1. Grain
2. Vegetables
3. Fruits
4. Meat and Beans
5. Milk
W HAT ELSE DO YOU NEED TO
STAY HEALTHY ?
1. Exercise
2. Enough Sleep
3. Cookies
4. Good Hygiene
5. Sunlight
6. 1, 2 and 4
B LAST O FF
Reach Planet Power by fueling your rocket with
food and physical activity. “Fuel” tanks for each
food group help keep track of how your choices
fit into My Pyramid.
http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/game/B
lastOff_Game.html
E XERCISE
Children should get at least 60 minutes of
vigorous exercise each day.
Running, biking, swimming, fast walking, playing
sports
E XERCISE H ELPS …
Improves self-esteem and well-being
Increases level of fitness
Helps build and maintain bones, muscles, and
joints
Builds endurance and muscle strength
Enhances flexibility and posture
E XERCISE
Presidents Council for Physical Fitness
http://www.fitness.gov/
Kids Health
http://kidshealth.org/parent/nutrition_fit/fitness
/exercise.html
S TAY H EALTHY
A Healthy You!
R EFERENCES
http://kidshealth.org/kid/nutrition/food/pyramid
.html#
http://www.mypyramid.gov/pyramid/index.html
http://school.discoveryeducation.com/lessonpla
ns/programs/foodpyramid/