The U.S. Department of Agriculture, or USDA, lists five major food groups in its food pyramid -- grains, vegetables, fruits, milk, and meat and beans. Children learn about the food groups and other nutritional information to understand how food affects health, mental functioning and energy. The grain food group includes lots of different foods, some of which are more nutritious than others. Children can learn about the grain food group through activities that provide a range of learning techniques.
The Food Pyramid
Use the food pyramid to help children learn how the grains group fits in with other food groups. MyPyramid.gov provides colorful worksheets and posters that list the food groups, the types of foods in each group and the USDA recommendations for daily intakes from each food group. For instance, everyone should eat at least 6 oz. of foods from the grains group each day. At least half, or 3 oz., of those servings should be whole grain.
Grains and Nutrients
Teach the children why they need foods from every food group to help their bodies grow and develop. For instance, foods made from grains provide energy, fiber and other important nutrients such as iron and magnesium. Help the children make a list of reasons why foods made from grains are good for them. Explain how fiber helps push food through the digestive system so the body can take the nutrients it needs and get rid of the rest. Discuss how the body converts carbohydrates into energy and how the B vitamins help build the central nervous system. Talk about body parts and how they are affected by specific nutrients in grains.
Hands-on Activities
Bring in foods and pictures children can see and handle as they learn about the foods in the grains food group. Show photos of wheat and other grains growing in fields. Allow them to feel the different grains, rice, oats and flour. Show pictures of foods made from the grains such as breads, cakes, cereals, pasta and waffles. Discuss how food is made from the raw products to help children understand the difference between whole grain and refined products. Explain the refining process, such as how brown wheat becomes white flour, and how it strips nutrients from foods. Bring in boxed products, such as cereals, and discuss why some products have nutrients added after the refining process. A combination of visual and hands-on activities can help children understand the journey food takes to reach their tables.
Testing Knowledge
Provide worksheets for children to complete in the classroom, or at home, to test their knowledge. Use printed work sheets with exercises for matching foods with the proper food group or have the children circle the foods that belong in the grain group. Use pictures or cut out food shapes from all food groups and instruct the children to place only the foods from the grain group in a box. The USDA, Exploration Nutrition and other Internet sources provide free worksheets you can download and print. MyPyramid.gov provides free classroom materials for nutrition lessons.
Interactive Activities
Help the children access the Internet for interactive nutrition activities. MyPyramid.gov provides the MyPyramid Blast-off Game in which children age 6 to 11 choose appropriate foods to fill fuel tanks for each food group so they can reach Planet Power. The Interactive Pyramid, located on the Nutrition Exploration website, allows children to click on a food group, such as grains, to learn about the foods in that group. The Interactive Pyramid also provides games children can play to learn about the grain food group.
Tips
A field trip, either actual or virtual, to a farm, grocery store and bakery can help children understand how grains become food. Baking bread from scratch helps younger children understand how grains are turned into food. Employ the "make half your grains whole" concept for children to practice choosing healthier whole-grain foods.
References
- MyPyramid.gov: Steps to a Healthier You
- Nutrition Explorations: Why Teach Nutrition
- The Child Care Network: Teaching Children About the Food Groups -- Grains/Breads
- MyPyramid.gov: My Pyramid for Kids Classroom Materials
- MyPyramid.gov: MyPyramid Blast Off Game
- Nutrition Explorations: MyPyramid for Kids - Interactive Pyramid
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