Since the food pyramid, also called MyPyramid, delineates a healthy diet, everyone should know how to use it. Start by teaching children about it at an early age, so they are familiar with its characteristics when they are old enough to understand food groups and portion sizes. Discovering Nutrition, by Paul Insel, R. Elaine Turner and Don Ross, lists six important aspects to the food pyramid that you should teach your children.
Step 1
Teach variety. The food pyramid uses a different colored band for each of the six food groups. Talk to your young child about what she is eating and in what food group it belongs. Start by having her eat something from each food group each day.
Step 2
Teach moderation. On the food pyramid, the colored bands are wide at the bottom and narrow at the top. This demonstrates eating more of the healthier choices and less foods with high fat content or added sugars. Help your kids to make better choices by choosing low-fat foods without extra sugar. Then, explain how this relates to the food pyramid.
Step 3
Teach personalization. The non-descript person on the steps of the pyramid shows that MyPyramid works for everyone. Take your child to their website to find out how much he or she should eat every day based on age, height, weight, and activity level.
Step 4
Teach proportionality. The width of the colored bands displays this feature. Show your child how he or she can know to eat more grains, vegetables, and milk just by glancing at the pyramid. However, the servings shown at the bottom are based on a 2000-calorie diet. Teach your child to calculate how many serving to eat by using their calorie needs from Step 3.
Step 5
Teach physical activity. The stairs on the side of the pyramid are to remind children to exercise for 60 minutes every day. Make exercise time a priority for your children. Let them go for a walk, ride bikes, skateboard, roller skate, play soccer or basketball, dance or any other activity that keeps their heart rates elevated.
Step 6
Teach gradual improvement. The statement "STEPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU" appears beside the pyramid. Emphasize the word "steps" with an older child and explain that transformation to a healthier lifestyle is a gradual process. Have your child list five steps that he or she plans to take next to improve health.
Tips and Warnings
- Do not become too strict with children; allow them to stray from the pyramid occasionally. Healthy Eating Every Day, by Ruth Ann Carpenter and Carrie E. Finley, emphasizes that "all foods can fit." Although nutritious foods are a priority, they explain that you can have less healthy food occasionally too.
References
- "Discovering Nutrition"; Paul Insel, R. Elaine Turner, and Don Ross; 2006
- "Healthy Eating Every Day"; Ruth Ann Carpenter and Carrie E. Finley; 2005
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