Activity 2A: Classifying Food

Topic: Nutrition Part of: Unit: You Are What You Eat Lesson: Food Groups

Entire Activity Download (2 pages)

 

Individual Downloads

Classifying Foods Answer Key

Classifying Foods Student Worksheet

Elementary Lessons K-5

 

(Entire Elementary Download (16 pages)

Classifying Foods Teacher Background and Instruction

Classifying Foods Administrative Background

Classifying Foods Food Group Headers

Classifying Foods Food Cards

Classifying Foods Food Page

 

KEYWORDS:

nutrition, food groups, classifying foods, food pyramid, K-5 lessons

 

Search Curricular Keywords

 

OBJECTIVES:
Using pictures and food group labels, students will be able to:

• Identify the different food groups
• Describe characteristics of the food groups
• Sort objects into groups according to their critical attributes
• Sort food picture cards into the correct food groups
  

 

ACTIVITY DESCRIPTION:
This activity will explain the five food groups and the importance of each group. It will also give information on the suggested serving sizes for each. The students will learn through stories, video, games and cut and paste activities how to sort different foods into the appropriate food groups.

BACKGROUND:
There are five basic food groups. They are Bread Group, Fruit Group,
Vegetable Group, Protein Group and Dairy Group.

Bread Group: This group includes products made from grains, such
as bread, cereal, rice, and pasta. These foods are rich in vitamins, minerals
and carbohydrates such as starch and fiber. Whole-grain food is healthier since it has more fiber than processed food. Examples of good food choices from the bread group include oatmeal, brown rice, grits, corn tortillas and whole wheat bread. Less healthy choices include doughnuts, cake, pastries, white flour pasta, white bread, sugary breakfast cereals, and white rice.

Fruit Group: This group includes many types of fruits such as apples, oranges, mangoes, papayas, melons, cantaloupe, apricots, peaches, and grapes. They provide water; vitamins; and carbohydrates, such as fiber and sugar. It is important to eat a variety of fruits since each type of fruit provides different types of vitamins.

Vegetable Group: This group contains a wide variety of food that is low in calories and fat, yet rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Examples include spinach, lettuce, cabbage, peppers, leafy green vegetables like kale, and broccoli.

Protein Group: This group includes fish, poultry, meat, dried beans, eggs, and nuts. They provide protein, which is a major part of body cells and it is needed for growth, development, and a healthy immune system. Some meats are high in fat, so you need to choose leaner types of meat and avoid eating visible fat.

Dairy Group: This food group includes milk, yogurt, and cheese,
which are important because they provide vitamins, minerals, and protein.
Calcium is a particularly important mineral for healthy bones and teeth. Food from this group can be high in unhealthy fat, so it is important to learn how to make healthy choices.

MATERIALS:

• 1 copy of The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day by Loreen Leedy
• 1 set of Food Cards for the teacher (laminated for reuse) –
  available in this activity
• 1 set of Food Group Headers for the teacher (laminated for reuse) –
  available in this activity
• 1 copy of My Pyramid Coloring Sheet for each student – this is available at:
  http://teamnutrition.usda.gov/resources/mpk_coloring.pdf.
• 1 copy of the Food Page for each group of two students
• Glue for each student
• Scissors for each student
• Crayons for each student

REFERENCES USED:
Cornell University,

http://agout.cals.cornell.edu/aitc/educators/pdf/weblinks/storybook.pdf

Accessed August 7, 2009. Note – this list contains other children’s books that may be of interest.

Division of Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension
Website, www.uwex.edu/ces/cty/marathon/wnep/books.html, accessed on August 7, 2009. Note – this list contains other children’s books that may be of interest.

 

Leedy, Loreen. (1996). The Edible Pyramid: Good Eating Every Day (Updated using the food pyramid from My Pyramid.gov). Holiday House.

NDSU Extension Service, North Dakota State University of Agriculture and
Applied Science, and United States Department of Agriculture cooperating.
www.ndsu.edu/ndnc/foodbooks, accessed August 7, 2009. Note – this list contains other children’s books that may be of interest.

US Department of Agriculture, My Pyramid website, www.MyPyramid.gov ,
accessed August 7, 2009. (Source for pyramid chart and blank pyramid chart)

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