the FOOD Pyramid

Steps to a healthier you

Eating Right Every Day

Food is the fuel your body needs in order to run.

You wouldn’t put bad fuel in your car, would you? Good fuel is just as important for your body!

It’s important to eat balanced meals every day, and the food pyramid shows you how!

The Food PyramidSteps to a healthier you

GRAINSVEGETABLE

SFRUITS OILS MILK

MEAT & BEANS

GrainsMake half of your grains whole

You should eat about 6 ounces of grains each day.

Some examples of grains are• Bread• Cereal• Crackers• Rice • Pasta

Whole grains are the best kind for you…for example, there is more nutritional value in whole wheat bread than white bread.

VegetablesVary your veggies

You should eat about 2 ½ cups of vegetables each day.

What are some vegetables you can think of?

It is important to vary your veggies—this means to eat lots of different veggies throughout the day. • Hint: Eat different colors!! (Greens,

oranges, etc.)• Brightly colored vegetables have lots of

nutrition.

FruitsFocus on fruits

You should eat 1 ½ cups of fruits each day.

What are some of your favorite fruits?

Like veggies, you should try to eat a variety of different fruits in lots of different colors.

OilsKnow your fats

You should try not to eat very many oils and fats.

Some oils and fats are:• Butter• Oil• Candy• “Junk Food”

Fats and oils are okay every once in a while, but they shouldn’t be part of your diet every single day.

There are better ways to fill up your “fuel tank”!

MilkGet your calcium rich foods

You should have 3 cups of milk or calcium each day.

Some foods that contain milk or calcium are:• Milk • Cheese• Yogurt

Calcium helps your body build strong, healthy bones!

Meat and BeansGo lean on protein

You should eat 5 ounces of meat and beans each day. The meat and beans food group includes:

• Chicken• Turkey• Hamburger meat• Nuts• Beans• Peas• Eggs

Meat and beans provide your body with the protein it needs to run well.

Physical ActivityStrive for 60 minutes or more per day

You wouldn’t expect your car to keep working if you always left it parked in the garage.

Your body needs physical activity, along with a good diet, in order to stay in good working condition.

You should try to get at least 60 minutes of physical activity each day.

What are some ways you get physical activity each day? (Hint: some examples during school include PE and recess!)

Eat Well and Stay Healthy!

Now that you know all about healthy eating and exercising, we are going to keep track of what we eat for three days!

Starting tomorrow morning, use your Food Pyramid Worksheets to write down what you eat and how long you move around each day.

After three days, we are going to take a look at our worksheets, and determine whether our bodies are getting all the fuel we need.