BUILDING BALANCED MEALS

How eating right and exercise improve life-long health

Learning Objectives

Learn the 5 food groups that make a balanced meal

Identify which food group a given food is in

Recall that a colorful diet helps provide nutrients the body needs

Understand that eating right and exercise make you healthier and feel better

A Balanced Meal Includes 5 Food Groups

GrainsProteinVegetablesFruitDairy

How to Build a Balanced Meal

Make half of your plate vegetables and fruits Add a palm sized serving of a protein food Add a palm sized serving of grains Finish with 1 cup of milk or dairy food

Yogurt, cheese, non-dairy milk

Building a Balanced Lunch

Today’s Lunch Menu:

Entrees:

Slow Roasted Breaded Chicken

Tacos

Mini Cheeseburgers

Yogurt with Granola Bar

Sides:

Apples

Oranges

Fruitables Plus Juice

Pineapple

Green / Red Peppers

Green Peas

Milk:

White, chocolate, strawberryWhat would you grab

to make a lunch with all 5 food groups?

Build a Lunch

Tacos Orange Milk

What food group is missing?

Why should we eat COLORFUL meals? A healthy body needs nutrients (like vitamins,

minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, fats) for growth, development, energy, and running all of our body systems.

Just as cars need gasoline to run, your body needs food to keep it going. But not just any food!

To be your healthiest, and to look and feel your best, you need to give your body the right kinds and amounts of fuel.

Why should we eat COLORFUL meals?

To fuel your body with all the nutrients it needs, you must eat a variety of foods, because each type of food has different nutrients

First, balance your plate with the 5 food groups Second, eat a variety of colors for fruits and

vegetables to get different nutrients

Activity: Identify Food Groups

Grains / Protein / Vegetables / Fruit / Dairy

Activity: Identify Food Groups

Grains / Protein / Vegetables / Fruit / Dairy

Activity: Measuring Up MyPlate worksheet

Vegetables: 2 cups Fruits: 1.5 cups Grains: 5 ounces (half should be whole grains) Protein: 5 ounces Dairy: 3 cups

Balance is Key to Being Healthy – Eat Right and Exercise Eating a balanced diet with a variety of foods is one part of health

Exercise is also needed to stay healthy and feel better

Why is it important to eat right and exercise?

How can we get in at least 60 minutes of exercise a day? Name some activities.

QUESTIONS?

Remember to build meals with the 5 groups Eat a variety of foods and colors during the

day Exercise at least 60 minutes a day; can be in

several short sessions, just move!