Learning about nutritious foods and their benefits is an important part of teaching children how to live a healthy lifestyle. The United States Department of Agriculture's (USDA) food pyramid illustrates the types of foods we eat and how many daily servings of each children need to develop strong bodies. With a little creativity, children can learn good eating habits while taking part in activities that use the food pyramid.
Preschoolers
Toddlers are at an age when they can begin to develop good eating habits that will become a lifelong pattern. Toddlers are old enough to offer limited help with food preparation, such as washing vegetables. They also are old enough to identify healthy food items that match those pictured in the USDA food pyramid.
The Center for Nutrition Policy Promotion (CNNP), a branch of the USDA, suggests allowing young children to learn about food by assembling their own healthy tacos. Caregivers can prepare all the ingredients--soft tortillas, refried beans, lettuce, diced tomatoes and shredded cheese--and encourage their child to put them together. Children are more likely to take an interest in food choices when they become involved in the preparation process.
Elementary Grades
Grade school children can be taught the sections of the food pyramid and the suggested number of servings per day by incorporating the information into arts and craft activities. At this age, children enjoy coloring pictures of food and identifying which food group each type belongs to. Try to limit the exercises to one food group per session or class. For example, have children color pictures of ice cream, milk and a wedge of cheese from the dairy group. After the children are through coloring, reinforce the lesson by discussing dairy cows and how milk gets from the dairy farm to the refrigerator.
Flash cards, depicting various food items, also are useful when teaching the food pyramid. Hold up the cards in numbered order while children write down the corresponding food group. Alternatively, children can call out the food group as soon as the teacher flashes the card.
Older Children
Preteens and teenagers can participate in activities that illustrate the importance of eating a balanced and healthy diet. Meal planning and menu development teach teens to select appropriate food items that satisfy the requirements set forth by the pyramid. Older children should study important nutritional differences, such as the difference between whole grains and processed grains.
Group and classroom discussions of advanced topics, such as healthy oils vs. unhealthy oils, the effects of various cooking methods on vitamin content and how the use of current agricultural practices affects our food supply, help older kids understand the importance of the food pyramid to themselves and society.
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