Ways for Kids to Set Healthy Food Goals

The lessons in this unit help kids to understand that food is fuel. Food is what you eat and drink to give your body energy to move and think. Rather than classifying foods as good or bad, encourage children to stop and think, then choose the best fuel (i.e., foods that supply nutrition and energy, rather than empty calories).

You can extend a lesson with videos from the fit video series, What Food Does for Your Body. Each video highlights a food group or category, and serves as a great resource to introduce or review the benefits of eating a variety of foods. See the Extend the Lesson section of this page for a list of videos. 

For more information on healthy eating, go to ChoseMyPlate.gov.

Ask students to share whether they tried out their snack ideas from the last lesson. Has anyone come up with a fun and healthy new snack recipe? Did anyone plan ahead for a healthy snack or help their family plan ahead for a healthy meal?

To use this with your students click here.

Show What You Know About Healthy Snacks

 Choose the best fuel displayed on the slideshow.

Share the Differences Between Healthy and Unhealthy Snacks

Review key points:

• Food gives you energy to grow and think.
• Choose foods with the fewest ingredients that are the best kinds of fuel for your body (e.g., choose an apple over chips or water over a soft drink).
• Eat lots of fruits and vegetables and make water or milk your first beverage choice.

Check for understanding: How do you think your food?

Illustrate Your Healthy Choices

Students create a poster to show others their healthy food choices. Download My Fuel to use as the poster template. While students are creating their posters, lead a discussion about asking for help with food choices. Do they ever need help? Who do they talk to? What do they say?

Challenge students to make healthy snack choices. For example, snack on fruits or vegetables instead of cookies or chips. Drink water or milk instead of soda, juice, or sports drinks.

Keep encouraging students to share healthy snack and meal ideas when they find them and highlight ones you find, such as a fun dip for veggies or a fruit that comes into season. After snack and lunch times at school, comment on how you or students are fueled up and ready for what’s next in the day.