Healthy Meal Planning with Kids

Introduce students to the idea that food is fuel for their bodies. “Food” refers to both 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. Green-light foods are to be eaten more often than yellow-light or red-light foods:

• Eat More: Green-light foods are best! They have the most nutrition for energy and growth and can be eaten anytime. Green-light foods are great fuel for your body and brain, 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. They have more fat, added sugar, and/or calories than green-light foods. Eat yellow-light foods sometimes, but not for every meal. Examples: dried fruit, veggies with sauces, flavored yogurt, granola bars, ground beef, and juice.
• Eat Less: Red-light foods have the lowest nutritional value. 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 foods are not good or bad; however, there are foods that you want to eat more often for good health. For more information and about the nutritional benefits of foods and different food groups, read Food is Fuel. 

Ask kids to turn and talk to a partner about their favorite meal. What is it that makes it a favorite?

To use this with your students click here.

Think About Healthy Meal Options

Students view the slideshow examples of mealtime choices:

• Eat More/Green Light
• Eat Some/Yellow Light
• Eat Less/Red Light

Learn About Healthy Eating Options

Present tips for healthy food choices:

• Choose whole grain foods.
• Choose baked or grilled over fried foods.
• Skip adding sugar or butter to your food.
• The fewer ingredients, the healthier the food item.

Check for understanding: Which foods will you choose to put on your plate for your next meal?

Plan Healthy 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.

Today we discussed healthy mealtime options and how to make healthy choices. What will you tell others about healthy mealtime choices?