Food Groups

Food Groups

MyPlate

• MyPlate is a system that is meant to help us eat healthy.

• It lists the 5 food groups that we should include in all of our meals.

• The idea behind MyPlate is not to avoid certain foods, but it is a tool that is designed to help us eat healthy based on our calorie needs.

Multiple Choice

MyPlate is meant to help us eat:

• Healthy

• Unhealthy

Calories

• A calorie is a unit of heat that measures the energy available in foods.

• Your body converts the calories it receives from the foods you eat into energy.

• The amount of calories your body needs is based on your age, gender, and how active you are.

• If you exercise on most days, your body needs more calories than it would if you did not exercise.

Multiple Choice

A calorie is a unit of heat that measures the ________ available in foods.

• Protein

• Energy

• Calories

Calories

• Your main source of calories should come from nutrient-rich foods.

• MyPlate lets you know how much of which foods to eat in order to stay healthy.

Multiple Select

What are the 5 food groups?

• Fruits

• Vegetables

• Grains

• Protein

• Dairy

Make half your grains whole grains

• Any food made from wheat, rice, oats, cornmeal, barley, or another cereal grain is a grain product. Bread, pasta, breakfast cereals, grits, and tortillas are examples of grain products. Foods such as popcorn, rice, and oatmeal are also included in the Grains Group. 

Grains

• Grains are divided into 2 subgroups: Whole Grains and Refined Grains. Whole grains contain the entire grain kernel ― the bran, germ, and endosperm.

• Refined grains have been milled, a process that removes the bran and germ. This is done to give grains a finer texture and improve their shelf life, but it also removes dietary fiber, iron, and many B vitamins.

Multiple Choice

Are whole grains or refined grains better for you?

• Whole grains

• Refined grains

Why eat grains?

• Eating grains, especially whole grains, provides health benefits. People who eat whole grains as part of a healthy diet have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases. Grains provide many nutrients that are vital for the health and maintenance of our bodies.

• Remember: make half your grains whole!

Multiple Choice

What is the health message for grains?

• Vary your protein routine

• Make half your grains whole

• Switch to low fat dairy

Vary your protein routine

• All foods made from seafood; meat, poultry, and eggs; beans, peas, and lentils; and nuts, seeds, and soy products are part of the Protein Foods Group. 

• Select a wide variety of protein foods to get more of the nutrients your body needs and for health benefits. Meat and poultry choices should be lean or low-fat

Why eat protein?

Protein supplies many nutrients to our body. These include protein, B and E vitamins, iron, zinc, and magnesium. Vary your protein routine!

Multiple Choice

What does it mean to vary your protein routine?

• To get more of the nutrients your body needs

• To eat only the same type of protein each day

• To never try any new protein

Focus on whole fruits

• Any fruit or 100% fruit juice counts as part of the Fruit Group. Fruits may be fresh, canned, frozen, or dried, and may be whole, cut-up, pureed, or cooked.

• At least half of the recommended amount of fruit should come from whole fruit, rather than fruit juice.

Why eat fruit?

• Eating fruit provides health benefits — people who eat more fruits and vegetables as part of an overall healthy diet are likely to have a reduced risk of some chronic diseases.

• Focus on whole fruits!

Multiple Choice

What is the health message for fruits?

• Vary your veggies

• Make half your grains whole

• Focus on whole fruits

Vary your veggies

• Any vegetable or 100% vegetable juice counts as part of the Vegetable Group. Vegetables may be raw or cooked; fresh, frozen, canned, or dried/dehydrated; and may be whole, cut-up, or mashed.

• Based on their nutrient content, vegetables are organized into 5 subgroups: dark green; red and orange; beans, peas, and lentils; starchy; and other vegetables.

Why eat vegetables?

• Vegetables provide nutrients vital for health and maintenance of your body.

• Vegetables are important sources of many nutrients, including potassium, fiber, folate, and vitamins A & C.

Multiple Choice

What is the health message for vegetables?

• Vary your veggies

• Make half your grains whole

• Vary your protein routine

Switch to low-fat dairy

• The Dairy Group includes milk, yogurt, cheese, lactose-free milk and fortified soy milk and yogurt.

• It does not include foods made from milk that have little calcium and a high fat content, such as cream cheese, sour cream, cream, and butter.

Why is dairy good for you?

• Consuming dairy products provides health benefits — especially building and maintaining strong bones. 

• Foods in the Dairy Group provide nutrients that are vital for health and maintenance of your body.

• These nutrients include calcium, potassium, vitamin D, and protein.

Multiple Choice

Dairy's health message is: switch to low-____ dairy.

• Low-sugar

• Low-fat

• Low-dairy