LEARN NC

6.1 Healthy choices: Part I

Provided by Nutrition Services Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health.

We all like to eat snacks, but are our choices healthful? This fifth-grade lesson plan, from the Food for Thought nutrition curriculum, teaches students about the food groups in the food pyramid, the nutrients that make up foods, and how to make smart snack choices.

Learning outcomes

Students will:

  • learn about protein, carbohydrates, fats, fiber, vitamins, minerals, and water and why they are all important to keep our bodies healthy.
  • learn about the food pyramid and making healthy snack choices.

Teacher planning

Materials and resources

Teacher background information

The following pages are from the NETx — Nutrition Education of Texas website.

Water
Provided by Nutrition Services Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and published in the Food for Thought curriculum.
Open as PDF (13 KB, 1 page)
Calories
Provided by Nutrition Services Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and published in the Food for Thought curriculum.
Open as PDF (10 KB, 1 page)
MyPyramid mini-poster
Document courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture
Open as PDF (173 KB, 2 pages)

Handouts

Make handouts of the following pages from the KidsHealth.org website:

MyPyramid for kids poster
Document courtesy of U.S. Department of Agriculture
Open as PDF (2 MB, 1 page)
Staying healthy
Provided by Nutrition Services Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and published in the Food for Thought curriculum.
Open as PDF (10 KB, 1 page)
Making healthy choices
Provided by Nutrition Services Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and published in the Food for Thought curriculum.
Open as PDF (14 KB, 2 pages)
Snack cases
Provided by Nutrition Services Branch of the North Carolina Division of Public Health and published in the Food for Thought curriculum.
Open as PDF (11 KB, 2 pages)

Activities

  1. Display the “MyPyramid for Kids” poster. Ask students to identify the different food groups. Talk briefly about why it is important to eat a variety of foods from each of the food groups. Different foods have different nutrients, so we need to eat a variety in order to get all the nutrients we need.
  2. Distribute and instruct students to read the “Food Guide Pyramid” and “When Snack Attacks Strike” handouts.
  3. Distribute the “MyPyramid for Kids” handout. Use the “Protein,” “Carbohydrates,” “Fats,” “Water,” “Fiber,” “Calories,” “Minerals,” “Vitamins,” and “MyPyramid Mini-poster” teacher resources to discuss healthy food choices.
  4. Distribute and direct students to complete the “Staying Healthy,” “Making Healthy Choices,” and “Snack Cases” handouts.

Assessment

Students are assessed from their completed handouts and from verbal responses about MyPryamid food groups and healthy snacks.

North Carolina curriculum alignment

Healthful Living Education (2006)

Grade 5

  • Goal 4: The learner will apply knowledge and behavior self management skills to areas of nutrition and physical activity for healthy growth, development, and maintenance.
    • Objective 4.01: Demonstrate the ability to select healthful food and beverage choices from the food groups of My Pyramid.