Objectives
- Identify nutritious food and drink choices.
- Use the stoplight colors (green, yellow, and red) as tools to categorize food choices as "eat more," "eat some," and "eat less."
Info to Know
Talk with students about the idea that food is fuel for their bodies. “Food” refers to what you eat and what you drink. The lessons in this unit use a stoplight as a tool to help students think about their food choices:
- Eat More: Green-light foods have the most nutrition for energy and growth, so eat them often! Examples: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean meat, milk, and water.
- Eat Some: Yellow-light foods do not keep you fueled up the way green-light foods do, so eat them sometimes. Examples: canned or dried fruit, veggies with sauces, white bread or pasta, peanut butter, and juice.
- Eat Less: Red-light foods are the least nutritious. It's okay to have a red-light food once in a while. Stop and think about your choice and eat the red-light foods least often. Examples: chips, candy, fried foods, cakes, donuts, and soda.
It's important that kids understand that some foods provide you with more nutrition than others. Check out the Eat More Eat Some Eat Less Food Chart for examples. For more information about the nutritional benefits of foods and different food groups, read Food is Fuel.
Set The Stage
Ask kids to turn and talk to a partner about their favorite meal. What makes it a favorite?
To use this with your students click here.
Captivate
Think About Nutritious Meal Options
Students view the slideshow examples of mealtime choices. You may want to review red-light, green-light, and yellow-light foods to help students categorize the meal choices.
Educate
Learn About Nutritious Eating Options
Present tips for making nutritious food choices:
- Choose whole grain foods.
- Choose baked or grilled over fried foods.
- Skip adding sugar or butter to your food.
Check for understanding: Which nutritious foods will you choose at your next meal?
Activate
Plan Nutritious Meals
Students document which foods they will choose to put on their plate at mealtime using the MyPlate Meal and the Eat More, Eat Some, Eat Less Food Chart printables.
Close the Lesson
Today we discussed nutritious mealtime options and how to make healthy choices. What will you tell others about nutritious mealtime choices?
Grade: 3-5
Time: 20 Minutes
What You'll Need
Resources
- Think Your Mealtime Food - Slideshow
- MyPlate Meal: Activity to Inspire Healthy Meals - Printable
- Eat More, Eat Some, Eat Less Food Chart - Printable
Materials
- Slideshow
- Poster Board or White Board
- Markers
Health Education Standards
- Standard 1: Core Concepts–Eat a variety of foods within each food group every day.
- Standard 4: Interpersonal Communication
- Standard 5: Decision-Making
- Standard 7: Practice Health-Enhancing Behaviors
Social and Emotional Learning Competencies
- Self-Awareness
- Self-Management
- Responsible Decision-Making
Extend the Lesson
- Play the fitGame, Red Food, Green Food.
- Play the fitGame, MyPlate in Motion, to help kids learn about nutritious foods and food groups.
- Read this article to learn how to Make Healthy Eating Easy.