Teaching your young kids about
good nutrition with MyPlate can be super easy for parents and fun for kids!
§ First
take out a medium size dinner plate. Have your child trace the shape on a piece
of paper.
§ Show
them the MyPlate logo and have them divide their circle into 4 almost equal
parts. Giving a little more space for veggies than fruits and a little more
space for grains than protein.
§ Take
out some crayons –tell them to pick out the colors that foods come in! Explain
to them that each color food has unique powers that protect our body, for
example, blueberries may
help them remember better and keep their hearts strong or strawberries have
vitamin C that helps heal their cuts if they fall on the playground.
§ Have
them draw and color their favorite foods on the makeshift plate.
§ At meal
time, have them help you plan the meal together to meet the MyPlate principles.
Discuss which foods you’ll need to prepare to fit every category. Use
this as an opportunity to choose whole grains over refined grains.
§ Get
them involved by having them wash or scrub vegetables, set the table and
arrange the foods on their plate to match MyPlate!
The next time your child falls
on the playground, instead of hearing, “I need a bandaid” it could be, “mom can
we buy some strawberries?” For more tips on MyPlate principles visit www.MyPlate.gov .
Then visit www.superkidsnutrition.com for your source of fun and practical
nutrition tips and tools to help you and your family live their best!
Courtesy of 
