Educating your children on how to eat a balanced diet is paramount if you want them to maintain a healthy body weight. The American Obesity Treatment Association contends that overweight children are 68 percent more likely to become overweight adults than those with normal body weight. The Food and Nutrition Service of the United States Department of Agriculture has an easy to follow food pyramid designed for children that outlines and defines the different food groups that should be represented in their diet. This information is packaged in different ways to make educating children both easy and fun.
My Pyramid for Kids Poster
This double sided poster is available to schools and child care providers across the country. One side is geared to the younger eaters and has a simplified version of the food pyramid. The other side incorporates exercise and healthy diet messages and is intended for older children.
A Close Look at the Pyramid for Kids
"A Close Look at the Pyramid for Kids" is an informative document that gives a breakdown of what each symbol on the pyramid means. Every aspect is covered, from the color and number of the stripes on the pyramid to why the stripes are wider at the bottom of the pyramid than at the top. Educators and child care providers can make sure that children have a full understanding of the pyramid and the message it conveys.
Tips For Families
Along with the availability to schools and child care providers, this two page leaflet is also available to parent organizations. There are tips for eating healthily on one side along with the food pyramid for kids, while the other side focuses on promoting exercise among children.
Making it Fun
The "My Pyramid for Kids" Coloring Page has a black and white reproduction of the pyramid that children can color in. They will learn and be more likely to remember the food groups with this easy and fun activity. Children can also set nutritional goals using a food pyramid worksheet. This worksheet has room for children to document what is eaten at each meal for the day, along with tips for making the appropriate choices, how much of each food group they should be aiming for and how much is actually eaten. The worksheet has a section for your children to rate their food choices at the bottom, with great, so-so and 'not so great' as the options. Children can then set down food goals for the following day. The final section on the sheet is dedicated to physical activity. Sixty minutes of "moderate to vigorous" exercise is the recommended daily minimum for children.
For children who like computer games, the "MyPyramid Blastoff" will be well received. The interactive game has children aiming for "Planet Power" by making good food choices and exercising, providing a fun reinforcement of the "MyPyramid" message.
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