|
By Diane Griffith, HealthAtoZ writer
Just months after releasing MyPyramid, the latest food pyramid for adults, the U.S. Department of Agriculture has introduced MyPyramid for Kids. The pyramid and its accompanying tools help kids learn - in a fun and interactive way - how to stay healthy by eating right and exercising.
Blast Off
Not only is the kids' pyramid easier for children to comprehend, but it comes with materials that make learning about the food groups fun. Kids can go to the Web (http://www.mypyramid.gov/kids/kids_game.html) and play MyPyramid Blast Off, a computer game that lets them plan meals by selecting from each food group. They can also choose their physical activities, and "fuel tanks" will keep track of their choices. The object is to not go overboard on total fuel, sugar and fat. If they do this correctly, they get to "blast off."
Other materials
In addition to the computer game, there is a guide to the pyramid that explains its concepts to children. There is also a coloring page, a handout with eating and activity tips, a worksheet that helps kids keep track of their food choices, and a kit including even more materials for teachers to use in the classroom.
MyPyramid for Kids
The pyramid, like the grown-up version, is made up of colorful stripes that symbolize each food group. Each stripe has a corresponding "catchphrase."
Orange: Grains. "Make half your grains whole." This means kids should choose whole-grain foods from this group whenever possible.
Green: Vegetables. "Vary your veggies."
Red: Fruits. "Focus on fruits."
Blue: Milk. "Get your calcium-rich foods."
Purple: Meat and beans. "Go lean with protein."
The chart goes on to tell children how many servings from each food group they need each day. It also encourages 60 minutes of physical activity daily.
Fighting childhood obesity
The goal of MyPyramid for Kids is to combat obesity by promoting more physical activity and healthier diets. Almost 16 percent of America's children are overweight. The pyramid, complete with cartoon characters who are skating, running, bicycling and engaging in team sports, encourages children to do the following:
- Be physically active every day. The person running up the stairs of the pyramid is there to remind children to keep moving.
- Choose healthier foods from each group. The wider stripes at the bottom of the pyramid symbolize the foods they should eat most often.
- Make choices that are right for you. Families can go to MyPyramid.gov for ideas on how to eat better and exercise more.
- Eat more from some food groups than others. Choose more foods from the groups with the widest stripes than from the groups with thinner stripes.
- Every color every day. Eat foods from every food group each day.
- Take one step at a time. Change won't happen overnight. Take it slow, adding one healthy thing each day.
|
Related Articles
|
|
External Source
 |
United States Department of Agriculture
|
|
This article was reviewed and updated June 2007.
Return to the previous page
|
)
